Peter Peter K. Poole

Peter Kevin Poole, age 55, passed away at home on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2012, after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Visitation will be held at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home, Pearl, Mississippi, on Thursday, December 27, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A celebration of his life will be held at McLaurin Heights Baptist Church in Pearl on Friday, December 28, 2012, at 3:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow the service at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.

A native of Collinsville, Peter was the son of Erskine and Eunice Poole. He attended West Lauderdale Schools until the ninth grade when his family moved to Carthage. He graduated from Carthage High School in 1975 where he excelled in football, baseball and basketball, and was Salutatorian of his class. He then attended Mississippi State University where he participated in intramural baseball and also met the love of his life, Cindy, whom he married in September, 1978. Their daughter, Megan Leigh, was born in April, 1991. Peter was employed by U.S. Foodservice for 20 years and was a category manager at the time of his disability. He also worked with his family’s logging business for many years. Peter attended McLaurin Heights Baptist Church and previously attended Park Place Baptist Church. He dearly loved his family and friends. He was an avid reader and enjoyed classic rock music, Mississippi State football, playing golf, fishing, and NASCAR. He was loved and admired for his intelligence, wit, kind spirit, soft-spoken demeanor, and his willingness to help others in need. He accepted and dealt with his illness with courage and dignity and was an inspiration to others.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ivan and Dora Poole and William “Cap” and Sally Ethridge of Collinsville; and his brothers-in-law, Michael Laughlin of Brandon, Johnny McGowan of Brandon, and Ronnie Ford of Farmhaven.

Peter is survived by his wife of 34 years, Cindy Cannon Poole, and their daughter, Megan Leigh Poole, both of Pearl; parents, Erskine and Eunice Poole of Farmhaven; sister, Debbie Ford of Farmhaven; brothers, Tim (Kay) Poole of Bailey, and Chris (Joyce) Poole of Benton, Arkansas; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Parker and Bettye Cannon of Pearl; brothers-in-law, Bart (Karen) Cannon of Cleburn, Texas, and Jeff (Dian) Cannon of Terry; and many nieces and nephews, whom he loved very much.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the kind and compassionate care provided to Peter by his oncologist, Dr. Manu Patel, and staff at Jackson Oncology Associates; his long-time family physician, Dr. Cynthia Allen, and nurse, Lili, at St. Dominic’s Family Practice; Sta-Home Hospice and Mia Thompson, RN, Rev. Hoyt Ainsworth, Chaplain, and Jennifer Ashley, Social Worker; Peter and Cindy’s “work families“, U.S. Foodservice and Wells, Moore Attorneys; and so many family members and friends who have provided much love, support and prayers throughout Peter’s illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to McLaurin Heights Baptist Church Youth Ministry, Pearl, MS; Southern Charities (benefiting Sta-Home Hospice, Inc.), Jackson, MS; or the American Cancer Society specifying research for early detection of pancreatic cancer.

Active Pallbearers (Peter's nephews):

Justin Laughlin

Jason Laughlin

Christopher Poole

Caleb Poole

Jeff Cannon, Jr.

Jonathan Cannon

Zac Cannon

Trey Lawrence

Honorary Pallbearers (Peter's close friends):

Raymond Triplett

Larry Hall

Terry Hollis

Marlon Gullette

Bubba Gullette

Steve Magee

Robert Dollar

Clay "Spud" Stewart

Jerry Woods

Byron Galloway