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The patriarch of one of life’s greatest love stories died Sunday. He was Robert “Bob” Peavey, “Pop” Peavey to his kids, “Big Bob” sometimes to his youngest son, Robert “Bubba” Peavey. He was 90 years of age, very nearly 91 when cancer finally made him succumb.
I grew up thinking Bob Peavey was the luckiest man on earth. When I was a college freshman and knew hardly anything about life, Bob was a half-dozen years older and was engaged to marry the girl I considered “the most beautiful girl I ever had seen,” my cousin Elizabeth Ann Peters, daughter of one of my “all-time favorite” aunts,” Lenora “Nonie” Bryan Peters, who spoiled me early with ginger snaps and Pangburn’s ice cream, the favorite of that day.
On many of my summer time visits to Aunt Nonie’s in Temple, I would steal a chance to listen to Eddy Howard’s “To each his own”, a love song that perfectly described the union of Bob Peavey and Liz Peters, a marriage that lasted 66 years through the rearing of a great family and, finally, through almost every health trial known to man.
Bob Peavey loved that lady with all his heart and soul, and she was undoubtedly the first among all his “firsts.” When God called, God came first. When country called, country came first. When family called, family came first. Of all his traits, loyalty was certainly high on his list.
I would be remiss not to mention Bob’s favorite pastime: politics. I was always amazed at how he would have an opinion on anything and everything related to the political scene. He already was well read and up-to-date on things that had barely made the news, on things that had not even crossed my mind. When I differed, I was at a huge disadvantage. He already knew all about things that were news to me.
I can imagine him now at the Pearly Gates: “St. Peter, you could have given me just a little more time. I wanted my say in this election year!” I figure Bob would have known some stuff even St. Peter had not heard.
But, of all that Bob and Liz Peavey accomplished in a life well lived and wonderfully loved, the greatest had to be the children they bore…Bill, Donna, Frances, Bryan and Robert (Bubba). All are accomplished and successful, each is different though from the same mold, and all have the enviable traits of their parents. Our prayer is they keep right on living and loving the only way they know how…with the same devotion of their parents.
Bill Turner and family
Tuesday, October 18, 2016 |
