Lee Wayne Peterson, 82, peacefully passed away on July 21, 2023, surrounded by family at his beloved cabin near Christopher Creek, Arizona. Lee was born on May 1, 1941 to Blanch Irene Williams and Wayne Leon Peterson in Los Angeles County. He married his sweetheart, Linda Kathleen Fullmer, on August 26, 1965 for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple.
Continuing his legacy are his children Debra Schneider (Bob), Shawn (Amy), Preston (Starlyn), Sterling (Shantele), Forrest (Jen), Heidi Roylance (Tye), Sheridan (Trisha), Autumn Prince (Dave), 37 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, with 2 on the way.
He was blessed to live an active life consisting of a coaching career (37 years with Mesa Public Schools, and several years with the City of Mesa Aquatics program), teaching, church service, hiking, fishing, woodworking, photography, painting, poetry, journaling, but most of all enjoying time with his family.
Lee is also survived by his sister Jeanine Larson, and brothers Don, Ron, and Scott.
Viewing service is Friday, July 28th from 6-8pm at Bunker Funeral Home located at 3529 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ, and the Funeral service is on Saturday, July 29th at 10am, located at 10305 E. Southern Ave., Mesa, AZ
The service may also be viewed following this link : https://zoom.us/j/98943629756
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
Coach Pete was a man to ride the river with. I very much appreciated our time together coaching wrestling and football and PE classes at Dobson!
Coach Pete was a positive influence on so many students and faculty. It was a pleasure having him on the outstanding Dobson High PE staff. Lots of students have many great memories of Coach Pete. Rest in peace and may God continue to bless his family.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to have coach Peterson as my teacher at Dobson high school. Graduated 2001. I was not the best student but he took me in like his own. The conversations I had with him will always be special to me. I was kind of a wild child but he put me in my place at my young age with words of wisdom. He has shaped me to be the person I am today. For that I will always remember my old teacher/friend. I look back and now and thank god for his advice. He was so special to me at the time but I didn’t see it. Now I do. Rest in peace Coach. From your problem student Billy Davis. Much love to his family during this hard time. He was like a dad to me when mine wasn’t there. ??
Coach Peterson, you were a great Coach. Thank you for instilling in me a since of humble pride. I am blessed to have had you as a teacher and a part of my life.
I had the privilege of knowing Lee when I was a teenager and he hired me to be a lifeguard at Powell pool. He had me teaching swim lessons which gave me the insight and confidence to become a Special Ed. teacher. I ended up being one of his colleagues at Dobson High. He was also in my ward years ago when I was a young mother with a sick baby. He and Coach McNaughton came to give my daughter a blessing that helped to heal her. As fate would have it, I moved in December and was happy to see Lee and Kathy members of my new community and ward family. Coach Peterson made a difference in many lives. Thank you for blessing mine.
I was fortunate enough to have coach as my PE teacher at Dobson High when I was there (class of 88). He was such a great man and a wonderful soul. Very kind and treated all of his students and staff with respect. Thanks for the memories Coach P . Love and miss you
I was blessed to have Coach Pete as a teacher and coach in football and wrestling from the 7-9 th grade at Powell JR and then at Mesa HS 10-12 graduating MHS’79. Coach was tough but fair and he became a huge influence in my life. I became a teacher and coach at the HS and college level and many of the lessons Coach taught me I used throughout my career. When I was coaching in college and recruiting Phoenix I would stop by Dobson to say hi , talk some football and thank him for his help, he’d get that humble grin and say “ you turned out Okay Semones” He was a great coach and a better man. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Teaching with Coach Peterson in the PE Department for so many years at Dobson was a special experience for me. He was a genuinely kind yet strong personality within our work family. I have fond memories of our luncheons together. It was wonderful to hear the stories of his life by his family during the service. He made such an impact on so many people.
Had Coach Peterson as my swim team coach at Carson Pool. Later at Carson as a PE Coach at Carson. In spite of those years, he hired me after HS graduation to be a lifeguard at Powell pool its first summer after being built. I wish I had known about his passing to attend the services. Always appreciated his example and his kindness to me.
So sorry I missed his funeral service. I didn’t hear of his passing until November. I coached against Lee for many years and I’ve always had the greatest respect for him and his coaching skills and knowledge. We had some great games against each other. Lee was a true follower of Christ