Earl Peel

Earl Peel went to his glory the morning of September 22, 2016. Earl was born January 15, 1922 to Charles Emmitt Peel and Mary Lucy Lile Peel in Raleigh, Shelby County, Tennessee. He is survived by his bride of 72 years Gwen Adams Peel, two daughters, Claudia Lynne (Ross) Jones and Suzanne Mary (Rowland) Felt.

Earl was a proud veteran of World War II, having served in the Army Air Corps (Airforce). He was a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He professed a strong testimony of the Church and never-ending love for his family. He started his career as a carpenter and with the help of Gwen’s father, George Adams, built their home. He will be remembered by his family, friends and neighbors for the kind and helpful acts of service he provided through his more than 94 years of life.

Earl will be truly missed by his living grandchildren, Karen (John) Sorensen, Sean (Julie) Jones, Jeremy (Robyn) Jones, Debra (Douglas) Merrill, Michael (Alisa) Jones, Ben Jones, Sam (Cali) Robison, and Cat (Kevin) Cook. Earl and Gwen are the proud great-grandparents to 14 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson and many other family members. He will join his angel grandchild Joseph “Joey” Jones, parents, five sisters, three brothers, Mary Grosjean and Martha Sigler (twins), Charles Emmitt Peel Jr., Louis Leroy “Pete” Peel, Ruth Bryan, Donna Escue, Elizabeth Inez Armor, and William Laurie Peel.

The family would like to extend a special appreciation for the love and attention given to Earl and Gwen by Onecare Hospice.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Valley View Funeral Home, 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah. The family will receive visitors from 12:00 to 12:45 at the funeral home prior to the service.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.valleyviewfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Huntsman Cancer Institute or the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund.

Earl was born on January 15, 1922 in Raleigh, Tennessee to Charles Emmitt Peel and Mary Lucy Lile Peel. Earl made his way into this life in a “big way” . . , weighing over 12 pounds. Earl was definitely a “country boy”.

He was the 6th of 9 children born into a home with loving caring parents. Earl's mother was a "mighty tasty cook." Her specialty were biscuits, pies, layer cakes, and cobblers. She could keep biscuits coming out of the wood stove until everyone was filled. Earl loved hot biscuits more than anything else. Earl was the one to get up early and build the fire in the cook stove and then go back to sleep on the woodpile behind the stove. His brothers would pay him to take their turn in building the morning fire. Earl grew up during the depression when they couldn't buy stuff because there wasn't anything to buy.

His Father and Mother always expected to be minded and respected and Earl tried to instill these same traits in his children and grandchildren. Earl said his parents were the "salt of the Earth".

Music was a part of Earl's life beginning with his mother playing the guitar and his Dad playing the harmonica. His sisters had beautiful singing voices and the song he liked to hear his mother play was Where the River Shannon Flows. Earl always said he "couldn't carry a note in a bucket" but he did love to sing. He gave his the daughter's the opportunity to take piano, organ, violin, and viola lessons and always loved to hear his daughters and many grandchildren play the studio grand piano in their living room. Earl was able to trade labor on a job for that piano. Music has been very important in all their lives.

Earl's father, Charles, could go anywhere and buy stuff without money in his pocket because he always kept his word and people always trusted his credit. The Peel family moved several times but never very far from their roots. His Dad's job as a prison guard kept him employed in good times and not so good times. He finished the 6th through 12th grade living with his family in a rent free house on the prison property.

Earl graduated from Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Tennessee which was known as the best high school in the region. On the poster of the high school he would point out the outdoor step where he would sit.

Earl was proud to serve his country and enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 29, 1942. He wanted to fly but was concerned about getting air motion sick. He could take off and land the plane perfectly but the Lazy S, diving, and flying maneuvers made him sick. His flight trainer said motion sickness is one thing but air motion sickness was the "king of the crop." Earl only got 3-4 weeks of actual flying before he was designated Ground Duty Only (GDO) The flight trainer said, "I've seen students get sick but they got over it, but you never got over it." Earl served in the 427th Quartermaster Platoon in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as an airplane mechanic and supply clerk with certifications in Marksman Riffle and Marksman Carbine while serving in: New Guinea; Melbourne, Australia; and Toyko, Japan. He attended airplane mechanic school in Gulfport, Mississippi and refrigerator mechanic training in Melbourne, Australia

After training in Mississippi he eventually was transferred to the Air Base at Kearns, Utah just west of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is where he met Gwen Adams who was the love of his life for over 72 years.

Earl and Gwen were introduced by Earl’s Uncle Ed and Aunt Vera (who were close friends of Gwen’s parents, George and Carrie Adams). They were like a third set of grandparents to Claudia and Suzanne. Earl married Gwen Adams, the love of his life, on May 13, 1944 then 10 days later left for his overseas assignment.

His many stories of his military experiences have kept family, friends, and even strangers entertained for all these years. A volunteer from hospice was able to interview Earl and get many stories written down. There will be a digital copy ready in the near future.

Earl chose to be discharged at Fort Douglas in Utah on January 27, 1946 to be close to his bride Gwen. Earl joined the LDS church and was baptized August 21st, 1947 and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple for "time and all eternity" on Sept. 17, 1948 having Claudia sealed to them. Suzanne was born under the covenant. He knew he couldn’t take Gwen away from her folks and back to Tennessee so they stayed in Salt Lake.

He attended vocational carpenter apprentice training at West High School in Salt Lake, Utah. With the help of Gwen’s Father, George Adams, they built their forever home. He couldn't turn down the offer for Pop Adams to help him build their home.

Earl worked as a Union Carpenter for over 30 years and for Jacobsen Construction for many of those years and then went to work for himself. The last big construction job he worked on was building the Huntsman Cancer Center. He never had to advertise except by “word of mouth” and his good name. Earl also helped build and remodel his daughter's homes and grandchildren's homes (not to mention making toys -- rocking horse, play cupboard, child's table and chairs, hope chests, helping the girls with school projects, and many toys and puzzles. Earl was the type of father every child would love to have as their role model.

Recently a volunteer with One care hospice asked Earl about when he met Gwen. Earl replied, “One never knows the twists and turns you’re going to make, especially when you’re young.” Earl and Gwen had 2 daughters. Claudia Lynne Peel Jones was born May 11, 1947 and Suzanne Mary Peel Felt was born January 2, 1952.

The most important things in Earl’s life were his bride of 72 years, his family, his firm testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, and his military service.

Among his other talents Earl was a real poet and composed loving poems for his bride, daughters, grandchildren and their spouses, as well as great grandchildren. He would tell people he didn’t really have a gift. But, the family treasures the thoughts and words he composed.

The Peel family enjoyed camping and spending time as a family. Earl loved sleeping out and hearing the noises of nature. Gwen was the planner, organizer, packer and constant support. They had a membership to Camper World which had camping sites in Utah and beyond. The Bear Lake site was convenient for the Idaho families to join in the family camping adventures. Earl loved cooking outside and he would cook pancakes outside on the electric griddle, placed on the picnic table, until bellies were filled and fully satisfied.

They always took a trip to Tennessee every two years to see his parents and family. The trips were always the highlight of their lives with the journey taking them along different routes across the United States (which Gwen would plan). Earl never had paid vacations so they had to budget their money in order to take time off work for vacations. The family traveled to 32 states on the North America continent. On the alternate years Earl’s Mom and Dad would travel out to Utah as would several of his brothers, sisters and their families.

Besides the family BBQ's and dinners for birthdays Earl had an empty whip topping bowl full of pennies sprinkled with silver coins. This was called the "Penney Dip". The birthday person got to dip their hand (or 2 hands for the younger grandchildren) in the bowl and anything they could move to the carpet Earl and Gwen would reimburse them with equivalent bills and coins after they counted up their catch.

Among his many callings in the LDS church he served as a Young Mens leader, a Ward Clerk (who served with some wonderful men who became his best friends) taught Sunday School as well as a Marriage course with Gwen. He was one of the first Cub Masters in the entire LDS church and was always a faithful home teacher. You'll see his strong written testimony in your program. We wanted to share this with all the family and friends.

After many years of Gwen taking care of Earl through many surgeries and health issues Earl's Doctor authorized hospice care and Earl made the choice "no more tests." All of One Care Hospice staff have been so loving in his care these last 6 months. They truly became fast friends.

July 17, 2016 the Hospice military officer in charge of Veterans' Affairs made a special presentation of a certificate thanking him for his years of military service. This was a proud moment for Earl and it was the last family activity he was able to attend.

Earl was proceeded in death by his parents, 3 brothers and 5 sisters, a grandson, and a great-granddaughter.