Rex Woodson Peterson
Cashmere, Washington
June 15, 2007

Rex Woodson Peterson, 98, of Cashmere, WA, passed away on June 15, 2007.  He was born in Pilot Rock, OR, on March 30, 1909, and was a descendant of pioneers in the Oregon Territory.  He graduated from Grandview High School, Grandview, WA, in 1927.  While attending Ashland College in Ashland, OH, he drew cartoons for the school newspaper.  He aspired to be a cartoonist, but the Great Depression came and he moved back to Washington.

He worked in the fruit industry in Yakima and later came to Peshastin where he met and later married Jessie Foster in 1939.  After working at Boeing during World War II, he and his young family moved back to Peshastin and bought a small orchard.  They sold that property and bought a 30-acre orchard up Yaxon Canyon in Cashmere in 1946.  The family lived there until 1967 when Rex retired.

Rex and Jessie spent many winters in their second home in Arizona enjoying golf, sightseeing and square dancing.  He was well known, both in Cashmere and in Arizona, for his witty plays, clever poems, sense of humor, enduring patience and love of agriculture.  Rex’s friends prized the many cartoons he drew as party favors.  He was a devoted, gentle, loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Rex is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jessie; daughters, Ann (Ron) Guiberson; Louise (Ed) Kenoyer and Shirley (Mike) Smith; grandchildren, Ann Miracle, Kelcie Anderson, Julie Roberson, Cami Przybylski, Darren Kenoyer, Ryan Smith, Jeff Smith and Megan Smith; and sixteen beloved great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the Cashmere United Methodist Church until his death, the Cashmere Kiwanis and the Cashmere Grange.  Many thanks to Colonial Vista Care Center staff and Dr. Eichler for their care and kindness.  A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 21 at Cashmere United Methodist Church.