Donald Peavey

Celebration of life service will be held at Christ Church 1111 Indiana Avenue Palm Harbor Florida 34683 on December 9, 2023 at 1:00 PM with food and fellowship to follow. Please R.S.V.P. The service will also be streamed live on YouTube @ Christ Church Palm Harbor Graveside Interment will be held earlier that same day at Calvary Catholic Cemetery 5233 118th Ave N, Clearwater, FL 33760 For those wanting to attend. Donald Earl Peavey (age 91) walked into the arms of Jesus on November 20th. He was born November 6, 1932 in Coldwater, Michigan to Claude and Ruth (Zeller) Peavey, the youngest of six children. He is survived by his sister, Francis Roe, son Ricky Dean, daughter Pamela Jean (Stan) Zemke; stepchildren Vickie Hulbert, Sandra (Walter) Gregory, Sharon Fisher, Brian (Heidi) Hulbert; grandchildren Rachel (Christopher) Underwood, Nicholas Zemke, Andrea (Josh) Geiger, Stacy (Rob) Holmes, Shannon Gregory, Tom (Jerika) Fisher, Carida (Jeremiah) Stevens, Matthew Hulbert, Andrew Hulbert; 22 great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews. When asked, though, how many children he had, he always responded “too many to count” because of the many precious ones in Haiti he loved immensely that God had placed in his care. Don grew up with many farming responsibilities before and after school, attended the Free Methodist Church, loved sports, loved to play the guitar and sing. His wit and love of life made him well loved and connected to others. He attended Spring Arbor College, went on to sing in a quartet, and later as a soloist. He bought a large tent and held evangelistic meetings while working construction and other jobs. He met and married Doris, who told him that God had called her as a teenager to be a missionary. He told her that he’d always felt called to the mission field, also. In 1970 they were led to Dessalines, Haiti. The money needed to acquire the land to build EGO was exactly what they had invested in a government bond so they cashed it in and he began clearing the property immediately. Don and Doris moved to Haiti in early 1972 with four of their children into a rented 4-room house. He and another man, Virgil Gillette, went on ahead to take the furniture in and set up beds. On their way in, they encountered problems transporting the trailer containing all of their earthly belongings to the small village of Dessalines and were stoned by about 40 men in a little village who thought they were cannibals. He had to lie across the motor in the old ford van and Virgil Gillette on the floor as though dead for several hours, being hit again every time they’d move. He heard a man speak to him in English (very rare then), whether human or an angel, who told him that he would help him (as he slid the watch from his wrist). He was skeptical, wondering if they would live to see daylight, but just as the dawn began to appear, the army arrived to rescue them. (The watch was later found in the back of the van.) God has protected them many times down through the years directing their path each step as they earnestly sought His perfect will in everything. Don did much of the construction of Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage on his own but was thrilled as work teams would go in to assist. Don worked on pageants for the community from many stories of the Bible using the children and staff as actors as Doris prepared costumes that her mother had used before her. Dad taught the boys farming, animal husbandry, fish farming, mechanics, construction, respect, games, and foremost, how to love Jesus. Don played games with them, especially on holidays, and joked with them often. He loved the kids and most of all he wanted to make sure they lived their lives for the Lord. Don lived his life “all in for his Savior.” In later years, although having a paralyzed vocal cord caused difficulty talking, he would always ask, whether a custodian or doctor, if they knew Jesus and did they know that God loved them? Donald Peavey, you’ve fought the good fight, you’ve kept the faith, you have finished the course, enter into your eternal home.

Donald Peavey

December 6, 1932 - November 19, 2023