Donald Lee Peterson

The Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory announces Funeral Services for Donald Lee Peterson, age 94 of Blairsville who peacefully passed away on Saturday, November 27, 2021.

Don enlisted in the Navy during WWll, and was a Radarman assigned duty with the Marines landing planes in China. Following reserve duty he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War serving on the destroyer USS Stormes (DD780).

He has been married to his wife Laure for nearly 73 years. He spent his professional career as an educator. After obtaining his doctorate from the University of Florida he served as Director of Secondary Education for Palm Beach County, FL. Then he became a college dean and the first director of the Indian River Crime Lab on the campus of Indian River Community College, in Fort Pierce, FL.

His hobby and passion was sailing his 38’ schooner off the Atlantic coast until it was lost on a reef which led to his missionary work with his wife. They performed volunteer missionary work in NYC for two years then spent 14 additional years in Haiti as missionaries to include starting a medical program training locals to be medical workers. As far as we know, this program continues to this very day.

Following their foreign missionary years, they established a Christian center for family strengthening and growth at LaFayette Georgia appropriately named "The Family Center". This property was transferred recently to another family centered Christian program called Evans Memorial Camp dedicated to addiction recovery.
His memory will be cherished by his family: devoted wife, Laure E. Peterson of Blairsville; son & daughter-in-law, Larry Keith & Christine Peterson of Blairsville; son & daughter-in-law, David Lee & Samantha Peterson of Baton Rouge, LA; and daughter & son-in-law, Linda Denise & Dave Baskin of Dayton, TN. Also, sharing in his legacy are 11 grandchildren: Denise, Alicia, Brian, Jennifer, Kurt, Kyle, Kelly, Michael, Jessica, Naomi, and Daniel; 10 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Peterson was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth Wayne Peterson; daughter, Donna Harmon; grandson, Robert Grice; his parents, Clarence & Edna Peterson; and three brothers, Jack, Harry, and Bill Peterson.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3, 2021 from the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home with Pastor Marty Duncan officiating. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home from 12 pm until the service begins. Interment will be held at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia on Wednesday December 22, 2021 at 11:30 am with Military Honors presented by the United States Navy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Evans Memorial Camp, Inc., 1229 N. Hwy. 221, Lakeland, GA 31635.

Arrangements entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville.