Earl Peters

Earl Chester Peters

Louisville, GA  –  Earl Chester Peters, 82, was called home to be with the Lord Thursday, July 16, 2015.

Born at home in Newark Township, Michigan, Earl was one of 9 children born to the late Cary Ezra Peters and Flossie Iota Allman. On March 21, 1945 at the age of twelve, Earl was baptized and became a member of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite.  Here began his life as a light of his faith, which was so evident in the life that he lived and the people’s lives he touched.  In 1952, Earl met the love of his life in Harrison, Michigan and on August 8, 1954, he married Ellyn Mae Gearig to whom he was married for over sixty years.  Over the next nine years, the addition of six children blessed his life.
Working throughout his entire life, Earl taught the value of hard work and dedication to his children as well as those around him.  As a young man he worked in the sawmill industry with his father. In 1970 Earl and his family moved to  Louisville, GA where he ran a dairy and farmed.  He also worked in the construction field with his cousins and alongside his sons at various times.  He had a passion for engineering and inventing and was the man many would count on to come up with a solution to almost anything.

Earl loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with all his heart and faithfully served him throughout his life.  He never met a stranger or missed an opportunity to witness for the Lord.  Helping others was as much a part of him as breathing.  Throughout his life he volunteered his time to others.  Ministering to young prisoners, working with the Red Cross and helping in service units for disaster relief across the country were just some of the ways Earl served his church and community.  He would never hesitate to drop what he was doing to help someone in need.  Loving, Compassionate, and Selfless, that was him. He was the greatest story teller of all times.

Earl is survived by his wife Ellyn, his six children; Dawn Peters (GA), Steve Peters (Kim) SC, Dottie Peters (GA), Denise Unruh (Verle) OR, LeaErla Sheffield (Sam) TN and Sam Peters (Susan) SC; seven siblings, Herbert Peters, Hazel Holdeman, Orville Peters, Willard Peters, Edna Peters, Helen Peters and Donna Fellows; Twenty-two Grandchildren and Twenty Great-Grandchildren.  Serving as Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers are: Michael Peters, Shawn Peters, Justin Schmidt, Jason Schmidt,  Shalyn Unruh, Seth Unruh, Grant Sheffield, Tyler Sheffield, Zack Sheffield, Trevor Sheffield, Colton Peters, Ethan Grindle and Marc Wade.

Preceding him in death are his parents, his brother Wayne, and his granddaughter Amy Jewel Giesbrecht.

Funeral services will be held in the Pinecrest Mennonite Church at 4:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 22, 2015.  The family will receive friends at Pinecrest Mennonite Church from 7:00-9:00 P.M. Tuesday evening, July 21, 2015.

The family would like to thank everyone for the love, prayers, and kindness given to us during this very difficult time.  We are touched and blessed.