Today would have been my Mother’s 70th birthday. Patricia Ann (Tanner) Peek was murdered on Saturday, November 24, 2012 inside her house in Cibolo, Texas (suburban San Antonio). Her killer was my mom’s brother, Keith Tanner (my uncle). After killing my mom, Keith took his own life in my mom’s backyard. For anyone curious about these events, google “Pat Peek Keith Tanner”. You will find several news articles covering the events by the San Antonio media. Upon hearing of this tragedy in late November 2012, I informed very few people in the Rockwall County area, as I had to immediately leave town and deal with pressing family and legal matters. There are still many people who do not know what transpired. This is, in part, the purpose of this very public note. In addition to this murder-suicide, my family and I have determined that my Uncle Keith also murdered his father (my grandfather) in August 1991. Keith also murdered his mother (my grandmother) in January 2012. While both of Keith’s parents were in the hospital and on their deathbeds at the time of their passing, Keith hastened their deaths by a few hours or a few days. Keith took the lives of both of his parents, his only sibling (my mom), and then himself. I do not want to dwell on Keith so I’ll now focus on my Mom – Pat Peek. Mom’s parents met in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, or more accurately Camp Shelby, Mississippi at the start of the war. Both of her parents were raised during the depression - tough beginnings. They were oblivious to how they would become known decades later as members of the Greatest Generation. They married young, both still in their teens, and soon Pat’s mom was expecting a baby, and her father was shipped off to war. Patricia Ann Tanner Born: Tuesday, September 26, 1944 at 12:13 a.m. Provident Hospital - Waco, Texas. Doctor Reese attending, assisted by Nurse Janet Rowe. 8 pounds 11 ounces; 21 inches long. Mother: Gertrude Ann Tanner. Father: James W. Tanner, Jr. Pat’s father (my grandfather) was serving somewhere in Europe at the time of her birth and received notice of her arrival in this world via US Army telegram. Pat’s father saw his baby girl for the first time when he returned from Europe in August 1945, at which time Pat was 11 months old. Pat’s first home was 311 Jones Street in Waco, the home of her father’s parents (my Great-Grandparents). The house itself no longer exists. The house was close to the present day intersection of 3rd Street and Dutton Avenue - walking distance to the Baylor University Campus and the Brazos River. Pat spent her first 18 years of life as an army brat, the child of a career soldier, never living in the same place for more than a few years. After several years in Waco right after the war’s end, she moved with her parents to Salzburg Austria, Fort Bliss Texas, Fort Hood Texas, Baumholder Germany, and finally Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, graduating from Thomas Edison High School in 1962. Pat enrolled at North Texas State University in Denton where she met her future husband and my father, Darwin Peek. My dad finished up his degree in the summer of 1966 - Mom and Dad married shortly thereafter and moved to San Antonio. Mom was not raised in church, but after her marriage she was surrounded by many in-laws who had been. Paraphrasing events recently shared with me by a relative: 1968 – Pat was visiting relatives in Kent County (West Texas). The next morning being Sunday, they all got up and drove to Jayton for church. The pastor was the late Joe Gilmore. Brother Joe was never one to mince words when talking about a person’s relationship with the Lord. He was very direct that Sunday, as Pat stated later: “I felt that he was talking directly to me.” Following the music and during the invitation, Pat moved forward to talk with Brother Joe. The congregation continued singing an extended invitation hymn, and Brother Joe was leaning over at the waist because Pat was on her knees, crying her eyes out. There is no doubt about the authenticity of her profession of faith. Pat was baptized a few years later. Mom spent the next many years as a stay at home Mom, raising her children: First the twins: Peggy and Penny, and right behind them Baby Dave. Three children under the age of 2. Good luck with that! In 1972 the family moved to the small town of Schertz, a few miles northeast of San Antonio, to an old run down farm house on 14 acres. Our house and land on the hill were home to cats, dogs, goats, sheep, chickens, and cattle – and those were just the animals that were supposed to be there. There were many more that came uninvited and unwelcome. Snakes beware – Mom’s hoe was always at the ready. Her house on the hill was always welcoming to any friends and family who came to visit. Pat had many hobbies: among them gardening, cooking and travel. She only ever prepared one bad meal and it involved something that is now affectionately known as dog food pudding. She enjoyed travel and among her destinations were New Mexico, Maine, and a few return trips to Europe where she visited the places she had lived in the 1950s as a child. Mom took her 3 children to church and school, bluebirds and cub scouts, BVYA baseball and softball games, band concerts, and countless high school sporting events. And before too long, to our own high school graduations. In the mid 1980s, Pat’s nest began to empty as her 3 kids moved away to attend college. This is about the time she began working at Randolph Air Force Base. There she discovered a new family. She spent the last 30 years of her life as a Defense Department civilian employee at the Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base. Of her 68 years on this earth, she lived army green or air force blue for 48 of the 68. While never in uniform herself, she lived and served alongside those who were. At Mom’s visitation and funeral service two years ago, I was humbled by the outpouring of support. There was an absolutely overwhelming show of support from uniformed members, civil servants and retirees of the United States Air Force. It seemed as if half the Air Force was there! At least one General Officer was in attendance as well as a former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. For those not familiar with these things, a General Officer here or there is very impressive, but the Chief Master Sergeant of the entire US Air Force… now that’s a HUGE deal. Mom’s last phone call to me was on Thanksgiving Day, 2012 – two days before she died. I missed the call. She left a voice mail that is linked below. It’s classic Pat. For those of you reading this who never met my Mom, if you listen to this short audio clip you will learn a great deal about her. You would have liked her. She would have liked you. Patricia Ann Peek departed this life on Saturday, November 24, 2012. Age 68 years, 1 month, 29 days. I love you Mom ------ PS. Her ashes now rest in the Brazos River… right across from the new Baylor Football Stadium. Being originally from Waco, she had longed to go to Baylor, but her parents were not of the means to afford the tuition – an army sergeant’s salary ain’t much. Years ago when she decided that she wanted to rest in the Brazos, she had no idea of the plans for the new stadium, but she will never miss a Baylor home game now… Sic ‘em Bears! Audio from last phone call is linked here: https://soundcloud/peekster91/pat-voice-2 Photos: Mom and me: 1970 Mom and her parents: 1946 Mom: 2012
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:56:25 +0000
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