1904 ~ 2004
Douglas Peck was born July 27, 1904 in Salt Lake City to Alfred Lewis Peck and Eliza Boehi.
He was born at home, he was a "blue baby", and was not expected to live. But live he did until May 4, 2004, 99 years, 9 months, and 7 days.
He grew up in Salt Lake City, attended Emerson Elementary School and West High School, and married Doris Rhea Guhin on August 10, 1927.
He and Doris moved to Provo in 1929 and established the Peck Electric Company on November 4, 1930 at 46 North University Avenue. Seven days later, the banks closed at the start of the Great Depression. By their hard work, the business survived.
The store burned down on Christmas day of 1970, but Douglas continued the contracting part of his business from his home and continued
until he fell and broke his hip on Halloween day of 2000, at the age of 96.
He came from pioneer ancestors. His grandfather Peck was a blacksmith in Nauvoo, and his Boehi grandparents were converted in Switzerland and emigrated in 1876. Doug became inactive in the church as a teenager. When he was 85 years old he became active again and until recently would attend the temple for a whole day every week.
He was the 17th young man to earn the Eagle Scout in Salt Lake City. He participated in the Wasatch Mountain Club. During the Second World War he was an active member of the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary to the Army Air Force. He joined the Lions club in 1932, and in 1993 was awarded a life membership. He was also a life member of Elks Club Lodge 849 and a member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers.
One thing that all the neighbors remember about Douglas was that every Christmas he gave everyone in the neighborhood a poinsettia and the children all got a Christmas stocking. On Easter he gave lilies, with Easter baskets for the kids. He became known as Grandpa Peck to the neighbor children. They would come knocking at his back door for animal crackers or other treats.
A neighbor's tree fell down when he was 95 years old. He was soon out with his chain saw to help with the cleanup. He roto-tilled neighbors' gardens and had a wonderful garden area that he shared with everyone.
He is survived by his only child Patricia Peck Dorny and her husband Nelson who live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; grandson Scott Dorny and his wife Arlène of Paris, France and great-grandson Tristan (one month); grandson Brett Dorny and his wife Joyce of Northborough, MA and great-grandchildren Katharine (15), Nathan (13), TJ (11), Megan (7), Christian (5), and Nicholas (2);
grandson Jonathan Dorny and his wife Alexis of Goleta, CA and great grandchildren Tyler (12), Katelyn (9), Kyle (4), and Jacob (2); granddaughter Jennifer Dorny Tribe and her husband Tim of Oro Valley, AZ and great-grandson Ryan (5); grandson Christopher Dorny and his wife Heather of San Marcos, CA and
great-grandsons Dylan (3), and Jaxson (1).
His surviving nieces and nephews are: Cheri Andrus of Park City, UT; Bessie Dover of Cedar City, UT; Darryl Eddington of Morgan, UT; Michael Guhin of Chevy Chase, MD; Timothy Guhin of San Bernardino, CA; Judy Hager of Pleasant Hill, CA; Robert Hite of Lake Tahoe, CA; Lavonne Pyngeorge of Danville, CA; and Marilyn Stevens of Orem, UT.
The funeral service will be held at Berg Mortuary, 185 E. Center St. in Provo, UT at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 14, preceded by a gathering of friends and family at 10 a.m. at the same location. A light luncheon will be served immediately following the service at the Provo Eighth Ward chapel, 502 East 200 North in Provo. Internment will be at 3 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. The procession will leave the church at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
donations to either Humanitarian Services, or the Perpetual Education Fund, in
the name of Douglas Peck, of
90 North 500 East, Provo, UT 84606. Send it to 50 East North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84150, or donate to any other charity of your preference, in his name.