Peter Thompson Keillor Jr.

Peter Thompson Keillor passed away at home July 11, 2020 at the age of 100. He was born to Peter Thompson Keillor (Sr.) and Sarah Katherine (Wright) Keillor on December 22, 1919. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, wife Augusta Margaret "Poozum" (Peltier) Keillor, sisters Esther Bingham and Barbara Peltier, and one daughter, Sarah Louise Morrill. Pete is survived by children Esther Boxall (Angus), Margaret "Peggy" Keillor, Peter Keillor III (Brenda), Charles Keillor (Janet), and Cynthia Jones (Greg), eleven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Pete was born in San Bernardino, California, and his early childhood was spent near Lund, Utah on his father's homestead. He often told stories of those early days going to the mountains in the wagon for firewood or a Christmas tree, and of him and Barbara rounding up the cows on foot from around Blue Knoll. At the age of nine, his family moved to Texas in their Ford Model T just as the Great Depression hit. The rest of his youth was spent moving around Texas, with stays in the Valley and Palestine, where he graduated high school at age 16 and where both parents passed away. He then worked at his brother-in-law's tin shop, which allowed him to put his sister Barbara through college. With her support, Pete later attended the University of Texas, with a 4.0 average. At the end of his first year, he saw war coming and not wanting to fight in the trenches, joined the Army Air Corps. Pete spent 1-1/2 years in the Pacific theater flying P-39 and P-40 fighters at places like Hawaii, Kanton Island, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Port Moresby, and others. He came home at the end of 1943 and was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor for 6 months. Pete finished his war service as a Major in the Army Air Force flying P-47's and P-51's, fighting over Europe from the air base at Duxford, England. In his 80s, Pete self-published his memoirs in a book, Wandering Through World War II. After the war, Pete came back to Texas, married Poozum, started a family and began rice farming. In 1950, he was called back to active duty for the Korean War. Luckily for his family, he served as an instructor in North Carolina and Virginia for the duration. Upon returning to Texas, Pete took up rice farming again, then added crop dusting, and raising cows. He also invented levee rollers that were used in rice fields, and which he only stopped making in his 70s. In retirement, Pete and Poozum traveled extensively in their motor homes in the American West, including driving to Alaska in his 70's. Pete was a wonderful father, grandfather, uncle, and employer for many people. He was an exceptional example of how a moral, straightforward person should live. He treated all he met fairly and worked hard as long as possible. He was also a very smart man who taught all of us a lot about the world and life. The family would like to thank his caregivers for the last several years, Lance Tolbert and Renee Bryant, as well as Charles and Peggy, who led the effort to help Pete since his wife died. A private funeral service will be held at Palms Funeral Home, with burial in Danbury Cemetery. Service Details. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book