Eugene Peterson

It is with a heavy, yet rejoicing heart that we share that our patriarch, Eugene Peterson left this earth for his Home in Heaven on November 7 th, 2025. He was born in Mitchell Countyon April 16, 1932, to Briscoe Peterson & Kate Griffith Peterson of Huntdale. He was preceded in death by his parents: Briscoe & Kate Peterson; his siblings: Atlas Hughes (Charles), Lorene Atkins (Willis), Buster Peterson and brother-in-law Hugh Whitson.
He is survived by his wife Clara Masters Peterson; two children: Gregory Eugene Peterson (Kim) and Donna Peterson Logan (Mark); his much loved grandchildren: Heather Whillier (Brad), Andrew Logan (Lydia), Erin Lawson (Ben), Nolen Peterson (Kerri), Mason Peterson, Bethany Idota (Keisuke), Bryson Matthews (Gabby), Peyton Bumgarner (Kenny) and Regan Peterson; his most precious great-grandchildren: Boone, West, Cash and Haven Whillier, Tahlia, Theo, Ilana and Caoimhe Logan, Banks, Carolina and Isla Lawson; Yuma, Koki and Towa Idota, Henry and Charlotte Peterson, Willow Matthews and Rowan Bumgarner; siblings: Etta Murphy (Dean), Alice Whitson and his sister-in-law: Florence Peterson. He is also survived by his many nieces, nephews and cousins who held a special place in his heart.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 16 th, 2025 at Shoal Creek Baptist Church. Pastor Dick Westbrook will officiate. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:15 p.m. prior to the services. Burial will follow in the Bear Wallow Cemetery.
Eugene's family wish to share following letter:
Dear Pawpaw, Even as a child, you were tough, resilient and loved your family well. We know you grew up watching your father take good care of his family, leaving the house early in the morning to work on the railroad to support them. You saw the sacrificial love your parents displayed as they cared for you and your siblings during really hard times. After graduating high school, you ventured out to the big city of Baltimore to get a better paying job. During one of your first jobs working at a factory that built airplanes, you figured out a solution that later became a standard practice at the factory. Even though they offered you a promotion, you decided that you wanted to move back to the NC mountains and then started driving a truck. You used to often tell the story of how they sent you to New York city with your first load and you learned to drive a truck on the way. You had so many interesting stories about those early years of driving trucks. During those years, you remembered your family back home and often sent gifts to help your family. Your younger siblings looked up to you and were excited for your visits back home. Alice still remembers the time you brought her a baton and majorette boots as a special gift.
You married Clara Masters on August 24th, 1957, after working very hard to win her over. She had a couple other boyfriends who also wanted to marry her but you were determined to prevail and became the love of her life. You took good care of her always, maybe even spoiling her a little. We will do our best to maintain your high standards! Like many of your generation, you didn't have much as a child, but through hard work and determination, you provided well for your family and made a beautiful life, while always appreciating the things you had and always thanking the Lord for what he provided. You were such a good father. You always pushed us to do our best and strive beyond our abilities when possible. Like the time you bought Greg and I adult bikes when we were just small. You took the seat off so I could ride it and gave me a big push! It was a challenge and besides, it was a good deal since we could ride these for years to come :-) And the time you taught me to mow the yard on a farm tractor. It was a little big but I did it because you believed in me.
As an adult you encouraged me to start my business and build my house. You not only believed in me but encouraged me and gave me advice along the way. You were the most hardworking man we know, never one to sit still. You drove a truck all over the country and made it to every state except for Hawaii. You loved talking on the CB radio with other truckers, and you were known for the good food Grammy packed for you for the road. You were a land developer and even named a neighborhood "Heather Ridge" in honor of your first granddaughter. You were always so proud of your grandchildren. You talked about them often and they knew how much you loved them. You were always quick to tell them a story, to give them a good back scratch, to draw animals on their hands and up their arms with a ballpoint pen, send them home with food and things you thought they could use and tell them to be careful. You were very overprotective with them when they were little, always worrying they would get hurt, and not even wanting them to climb the stairs. Being in good health for most of your 93 years, you even got to enjoy your great-grandchildren, letting the older ones help you in the garden to "pick potatoes" and taking them fishing. Anytime we would come to visit you, even into your 90s, you would be up on a ladder, mowing, working on a car, or on a roof. You loved the house you built in Burnsville. What a beautiful, peaceful place it was and how we enjoyed our days with you and Grammy there. You built The Round House too and took pride in the stone fireplace and the beautiful view. One time when you were there, you shot two deer with one bullet from your truck, apparently.
For many years you would go pick apples at an orchard after everyone else had already gone. You would pick up the apples on the ground and bring them home to share with friends, family and neighbors. This reminds us the most of who you were - you were willing to put in the work, you weren't too proud to do a job others didn't want to do, you didn't want good things to go to waste, and you definitely didn't want anyone to go hungry or be in need. We had truly great times with you. You drove us in your RV across the country to British Columbia one summer as Grammy cooked up delicious meals for everyone as we traveled down the road; You drove Erin out to a new job in Oregon and made the trip back in record time; You and I had a great time together flying out to the Arches National Park in Utah and riding on a glass dome train ride through the beautiful "wild west" as we celebrated your 90th birthday; You came to the hospital in Charlotte on your 81st birthday to welcome your new grandson, West; You spent several weeks with Andrew and Lydia one summer at your Burnsville house teaching them about the art of gardening. I think you and Grammy even changed your diet to include eating rice while they were there. You made The Round House a wedding venue and transformed the yard at the Burnsville house so Heather and Bethany could have their weddings there. I always knew the way to get you to stay longer on any visit was to find you something to do while you were there. As long as we didn't give you much downtime and had a job for you, you were there!
You have always taken such good care of us. Pawpaw, we love you dearly! Thank you for the example you set for us of a life well lived. Thank you for teaching us to work hard, to treat people right, to take care of the things we have and most of all, thank you for the legacy of faith and love for our Savior.
Love, Your family
Memorial flowers for the service are welcome at both the funeral home and the church. Contributions in support of Mark Logan's ministry to feed orphans in Malawi, Africa, may be made through Baptist International Missions, Inc., (BIMI).