M.E. (Pete) Petross, 87, of Blanket passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Pete was born in Blanket, TX on May 15, 1924 to E. O. (Owen) and Jewell Poynor Petross. He graduated from Early High School in May, 1942, joined the Army Air Force in October, 1942, and was honorably discharged in January, 1946. He met Kaye (Kathryn) Plummer and they were married on August 8, 1946. Kaye preceded him in death in May, 2008. Pete married Carmen McBride on January 9, 2009.
Pete graduated from Howard Payne College in 1949, taught at Robert Lee ISD, then attended Texas Christian University to receive his master’s degree. After receiving his degree, he was the elementary then high school principal at Robert Lee ISD. Pete completed his superintendent’s certification at TCU in the summer of 1959 and served as superintendent of Bangs ISD for 13 years. While superintendent, Pete also coached the high school girls’ basketball team and the junior high and high school boys and girls tennis teams plus attended classes at Howard Payne for certification to teach Spanish and Biology so the district could offer those classes to the students.
In 1972, Pete became a teacher at Brownwood ISD and retired from his educational profession in 1983—after 34 years of love and service to children and young people. His next “careers” included driving charter buses for Arrow Coach Lines and reading gas well meters until 2000—his last retirement from the workforce at 76 years of age.
Pete was always an achiever—setting high standards for himself, and by doing so, influencing the lives of his family, his students, his friends, and others. He valued his relationship with his Lord, his family and friends, education, honesty, trust in his fellow man, helping others, and hard work—always give over 100%. His word was his bond and the word “can’t” was never a part of his vocabulary! He loved telling jokes and funny stories (particularly about his children and grandchildren), gardening, teasing people, sports, fishing, reading, westerns, and gospel music.
Pete leaves behind to cherish his memory and sense of humor, his wife of Blanket; daughter, Karen Allman and husband, Bob of Temple; son, Douglas Petross of Bangs; son, Stanley Petross and wife, Connie of Abilene and ten grandchildren who loved, admired, and respected their “Pa Pete”. Granddaughters are: Shana Shupick and husband, Mike of Brock; Kristi Kimberly and husband, Andrew of Fort Bragg, NC; Natasha Furry and husband, Josh of Blanket; Brenna McLennan and husband, Tanner of Vernon; Tara Petross of Dallas; Leah Petross of Abilene; and Arian Petross of Fort Worth. Grandsons are: Brant Allman and wife, Cindy of Temple; Chad Petross of Wichita Falls; Brett Petross and wife, Jennifer of Bay St. Louis, MS; and also 11 great grandchildren. Other survivors include sisters Nelda Aplin of Wimberly and Margie Hays of Buda; uncle, Bill Poynor of Alvarado, TX and 5 nieces and nephews.
Family and friends may gather for visitation on Sunday, May 22, 2 – 4 pm at the Heartland Funeral Home in Early, TX. Services will be conducted by Wayne Lewis and Dan Wooldridge at the First United Methodist Church in Bangs, TX on Monday, May 23, at 2:00 p.m. Graveside services will follow at the Bangs Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Bangs or the First United Methodist Church of Blanket.
Friends may sign the guestbook at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net. Heartland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
