James Peteete

James Leroy Peteete, age 96, of Hays, KS, passed away Monday, November 28, 2016 at his home in Hays. He was born October 20, 1920 in Singleton, Texas to John Henry and Ollie (Blount) Peteete. He married Clarice Elaine Kelly October 19, 1946 in Topeka, Kansas.

James was a veteran of the Army Air Corp where he attained the rank of Tech SGT. During his distinguished military career he was stationed in England as a Staff SGT Flight Engineer with the 458th Heavy Bombardment Group, 8th USAAF. During his service he was part of the first Daylight Bombing Run over Berlin. On March 6, 1944, his plane, under attack and badly damaged, made it as far as Holland where, crippled, it went down. He was captured, becoming a POW for fifteen months. He received a Purple Heart and the Golden Caterpillar awards for his service, as well as the European Theater of Operations ribbon.

James was a retired union Ironworker. He helped to build Missile Silos throughout Kansas, along with many other projects in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. One such project was the Gross Memorial Colosseum in Hays. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hays and the Hays VFW Post 9076. He enjoyed gardening, canning, woodworking, fishing, and deer, coon, and game bird hunting. He also ran the Hays Farmers Market for over thirty years.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Clarice of Hays; five sons, James Kelly Peteete of Mankato, KS, Terry Lynn Peteete (Rama) of Kansas City, MO, John Michael Peteete (Connie) of Independence, MO, Matthew Wayne Peteete of Moundridge, KS, Sean Timothy Peteete of Hays; two daughters, Linda Elaine Maxey of Kansas City, MO and Rebecca Sue Herrman (Curt) of Manhattan, KS, 9 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Patrick Leroy Peteete of Cedarvale, KS, and a sister, Evelyn (Peteete) Gilbert of Navasota, TX.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 1, 2016 from 4 PM - 8 PM at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Friday, December 2, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Hays. Burial will be in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Republic County KS.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to keithleyfuneralhomes@gmail.com











Service Information









Visitation Thursday

December 1, 2016

4:00 PM to 8:00 PM



2509 Vine Street

Hays, Kansas 67601









Funeral Service Friday

December 2, 2016

10:00 AM

Hays First United Methodist Church

305 w. 7th street

Hays, Kansas 67601