Robert "Bob" Peavey

Robert "Bob" Peavey

Robert Morse Peavey, an amazing husband and father known by all for his good humor, love of people and kindness to animals, passed away on October 16, 2016, at the age of 90 after a brief but heroic battle with cancer. Better known to the world by his nickname "Bob", he treated everyone he met with kindness and a genuine interest in them and their families. Bob was born on December 22, 1925, in Indianapolis, Indiana to George and Dorothy Peavey.

Bob was a farm boy.

He spent weekends and summers while growing up with his Grandfather Williamson on his farm and also with his Uncle on his Dairy farm. He would rise early to handle the chores, feed the horses, gather the eggs and milk the cows.  It was this early experience that developed his unending love for animals.

Bob was a patriot.

He enlisted into the Army Air Corps to faithfully serve our country in World War II. He was stationed mostly in the Far East and spent most of his time at the Shanghai Airbase training facility. He would love to tell fantastic stories about his time in China.  

Bob was a scholar.

He attended primary school in Indianapolis, middle school in Dallas, Texas, and then ended up graduating from Lamar High School in Houston, Texas. He loved to tell stories about how when the weather was nice, he would ride his horse to school and tie it up in the pasture next to the campus. His early life experience on the farm inspired him to get his Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in chemistry with the intention to go on to veterinary school. He was an excellent student and participated in many extracurricular activities. He was president of his Kappa Alpha fraternity and bonded very closely with men that he continued to interact with and support long into his golden years.

Bob was a husband.

While attending Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, an angel, Elizabeth Peters, caught his eye and he was never the same again. They would enjoy going dancing at the local dance halls and could cut a rug with the best of them. He stood before God and stated that he would love, honor, and cherish his bride, until death do they part, and he kept his word. He loved Elizabeth from the moment they met with a deep and abiding passion for 66 years.

Bob was a father.

He always put family first. Bob and Liz brought five wonderful children into this world: Bill, Donna, Frances, Bryan and Robert. They enjoyed wonderful childhoods with weekends and holidays on road trips visiting grandparents in both Indianapolis and Temple, Texas. Even though he worked long hours, he was never an absentee father.  He always had time to throw a baseball or help his children learn to ride a bike. He always welcomed friends into his home. He always encouraged us to use proper English and annunciate. He would approach problems and conflicts with the following advice: “Always look at everything from the other person's point of view” and continually stressed honor and dignity.  He was never ashamed to say he was wrong.  He had a special way of making all us kids feel like we were his favorite, and he showed us clear boundaries, with lots of instruction reinforced with firm, but never harsh discipline, wrapped up with lots of love and tickling!

Bob was a hard worker.

He had an untiring work ethic. Some of his early jobs included a short stint as a milkman and delivering potato chips.  In his many years as office manager and fuel coordinator at Martin- Matthews Oil Company, a Union 76 fuel distributor, he would always get to work at least by 6 AM to make sure everything was in order for the day. He was available 24 hours a day to the staff and the truck drivers that he worked with. He would frequently receive telephone calls in the middle of the night with one of his drivers calling about a problem with the truck or an issue with the delivery and he would always respond cheerfully and work through the problem. Bob was the kind of guy that just got things done and he was well respected for this skill.

Bob was a pilot.

His love for flying was only exceeded by his love for his wife and children. He obtained his pilot's license at the young age of 17 and continued to build his expertise and experience throughout his life. He owned several single engine airplanes and would share his passion with family and friends by taking them on tours through the clouds. Many trips to grandma's house were in a single engine Cessna. He made lifelong friends in his aviation circles and spent many a Sunday morning out at "Vidor International Airport" with Joe Jenkins drinking coffee and solving the world's problems. Later in life he found the joy of model airplanes and would spend countless hours building and flying his masterpieces.

Bob was a good neighbor.

Often referred to as the “Mayor of the Neighborhood”, he constantly kept up with the “goings-on” by maintaining his lawn chair post in the front yard usually with binoculars in hand. People walking by would stop and chat with Bob about anything and everything. He was a master at "shooting the breeze, making everyone feel special along the way.

Bob was love.

Bob was humble, loving, selfless and kind. His positive attitude just made others feel likewise optimistic. His genuine interest in learning about everyone that he met endeared him to so many folks.  And if he gave you a "nickname", you knew he loved you.  He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten, by all who had the good fortune to cross his path.

Survivors include wife of 66 years, Elizabeth. Children: William and wife Tammi; Donna and husband Thad Minyard; Frances and husband Scott McGill; Bryan and wife Rhonda; Robert and wife Dana. Grandchildren: Katy Branch, Darren McGill, Graham Peavey, Alanna Lott, Bailee Peavey, Kaitlin Peavey, Chelsea Peavey, Marlie Peavey, and Emmy McGill and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Mr. Peavey will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 22, 2016, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont, with a reception immediately following. A family committal was held at Broussard’s Crematorium.

Bob's favorite charity that he always donated to was the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111; or online at http://www.vfw.org. In lieu of flowers, please donate to this cause to support our men and women overseas.