John Thomas Peace

John Thomas Peace (Poppy), age 69 passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 after a brave and long battle with pancreatic and lung cancer. He was surrounded by his beloved wife Wayna J. Peace and family. Mr. Peace was a resident of Ocean Springs, MS. He was born in La Pryor, TX on October 17, 1939. Mr. Peace attended grade and high schools in Hurricane, UT. He also attended Dixie College in St. George, UT. After college he was employed by the Federal Reserve Bank in Salt Lake City, UT. During this time he was called into active duty for the United States Army, where he served two years during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return home, he continued his work for the Federal Reserve Bank where he worked for twenty seven years. During his twenty seven years he received many, many awards and recognition for his public service work. After retiring he pursued one of his lifelong dreams by purchasing a fishing resort in Magic Lake, ID. After approximately ten years in the fishing and resort business he sold it to return to the banking business, where he was employed by World Savings and Loan for eleven years. He retired from World Savings and Loan due to his declining health and moved to Mississippi with his wife, Wayna. He had a passion for the outdoors and pursued that passion in many forms; fishing, many Harley Davidson road trips and boating. He also enjoyed the Elks Lodge (4077) and served as the Exalted Ruler in Murray, UT. He is known to all his family and friends for his story telling and his wonderful sense of humor. This is one of his greatest legacies and will be one of the most missed. He married Wayna J. Peace in Las Vegas in 2003. She remained steadfast by his side throughout his long battle with cancer. Before he became sick they shared many happy and wonderful years together doing the things that they both loved, which included visiting their children in Connecticut, Mississippi and Utah. She joined him in his love of the outdoors and motorcycle riding. They had both found their true loves in this life and were so in love when the cancer took over. Their love for one another saw both of them through to the end. They also loved spending time with his beloved sister, Mary Jane and her husband, Earl and extended family. They spent most Christmas' enjoying Mary Jane's beautifully decorated Christmas home, her gorgeous homemade gifts and great cooking. Mary Jane was Mr. Peace's only sibling. He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Emma Peace of Hurricane, UT and his beloved infant daughter, Danielle Peace of Salt Lake City, UT. He is survived by a large and loving extended family consisting of his wife, Wayna; her son, Greg (Carina) Fink and their children: Sehanah, Katherine, Candice, Crystal, Christina (Drew) Saucier and (baby) Maison; Mike Jones of MS; step-daughter, Roxane Riggs; Chuck (Marty) and Mason of CT. Stepson, Bill (Cyndy) Riggs, Lil' Cyndy, Carissa, Lindsay, Lauren, Clint and Lisa of UT. His sister, Mary Jane (Earl) Olsen, their children: Kimberly Wickham and Libra (Troy) Bartlett and their children: Andrea, Brooke and Brent, Raquel and Malachi of ID. He is also survived by several great nieces and nephews as well as several beloved cousins in various states. There are numerous and wonderful friends made throughout his childhood and beyond. The Jimmy Judds, Darryl Wrights, Clark Bensons, Alan Pederson's, Helen Hancock's and Patsy Williams' are not forgotten, but rather just a few of a large group that he was proud to have known and loved in his lifetime. Along with those friends come unforgettable memories like the (John Peace) swimming hole at the canal, the skits (John and Marsha) in the school auditorium, the painting of a friend’s truck with white wash house paint, that will live on. A Memorial will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2009 in the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, where friends may visit one hour prior to service.