STACEY LEE PEEBLES, age 99, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 10, 2013. Our beloved Daddy, Granddad, Pappy, and Uncle Stacey was born in Livingston, Texas, on September, 20, 1913, to John Riley and Mary Miller Peebles. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Minnie Cockrell Peebles his parents his brothers, J.C., Alvin, Ed, and Billy Peebles and, his sisters, Maudie Collier, Nelda Moffett, and Twila Dickerson. Stacey was a lifelong resident of Livingston and the oldest and lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church of Livingston. He is survived by his daughter, Rhoda Peebles Tuffly and her husband Edward Tuffly two grandchildren, Ellen Tuffly and Paul Tuffly and Pauls wife Kelly three great grandchildren, Hannah Jones , Avery Tuffly, and Carys Tuffly and, many beloved nieces and nephews from both the Cockrell and Peebles families. Stacey was the consummate Texas gentlemankind, gentle, generous, engaging, humorous, loyal, and patriotic to the core. He never met a stranger and, to his last days, could recall and relate stories about events and specifically name people with whom he had associated over his entire 99year history. He was an astute domino and 42 veteran competitor and played many hours with his friends and family. He would leave his home and go play with what he described as the old folks when he was a good 20 years older than anyone in the game. Stacey was an avid reader and devoured books of all kinds, but especially books about American and Texas history. He was an unbelievably successful vegetable and fruit gardener, and, for many years, supplied his family and friends from his harvest of every crop that could conceivably grow in Livingston. His family was extremely disappointed when he was advised to discontinue tending his garden in the summer heat since it was impossible to replace his quality produce at any retail store. Stacey volunteered to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II in spite of the fact that he was completely deaf in one ear and would never have qualified for the draft. He actively served during the entire war in several of the hot spots in the Pacific, and his experiences there made him reluctant for the rest of his life to ever set foot on an aircraft. However, he traveled widely making good use of the car and bus on many of the great highways he was so instrumental in designing and building for the State of Texas during his 36 year career with the Texas Highway Department. Shortly after he retired from his position with the State of Texas, he was offered the job of renewing and rebuilding the streets in Livingston, and, as a result of his work, many residents commented that the streets were the best ever. Stacey, together with his friend Gregory Ogletree, then took on the project of renovating Forest Hill Cemetery, renewing its charter, establishing a perpetual care fund, cataloguing sites for families, and making continuing sales of the grave sites. Through his 98th birthday, he was always personally available to meet with families in their time of need. His friend Beamon Smith carried on this work after Stacey was unable to continue. Stacey was president of the Forest Hill Cemetery Board and a member of the Livingston local chapter of the VFW. Our Lord blessed Stacey with what can only be described as miraculously good health. He lived in his own home, drove, worked every day, volunteered, socialized, attended church, played on the floor with his great granddaughters well into his 90s, and never had a serious illness or spent a day in a hospital right up until after his 98th birthday. We will all miss his cheerfulness, unconditional love, lively conversation, and amazing memory from which came so many interesting stories. We are so fortunate to have had him as part of our lives for so many years, and we know that his legacy of kindness will continue to bless many. He was a really good guy and left the world a much better place for his presence.

The family wishes to thank the kind staff at Pine Ridge Health Care Staceys doctors, Raymond Luna and David Buescher Reagan Wells and the dedicated nurses of Lighthouse Hospice and, the many friends and family members who showed such kindness in visiting and caring for him over the past eighteen months.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate Staceys life on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 2:00PM at the First Presbyterian Church of Livingston, 910 N. Washington, Livingston, Texas, with interment to follow at Forest Hills Cemetery. The family requests that contributions be made to the Scholarship Fund of Camp ChoYeh, 2200 South Washington Ave, Livingston, Texas 77351 www.choyeh.org to assist children who might otherwise be unable to experience camp or to the charity of your choice. Staceys pallbearers include Gregory Ogletree, Beamon Smith, Jake Sherman, Leroy Myrow, Billy Mack Cockrell, Ben Cockrell, Jerry Cockrell, and Alec Buzz Cockrell. His honorary pallbearers are all of his many nephews and great nephews in the Peebles and Cockrell families.

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