Edward F. Petrie Jr.

Edward Frank "Pete" Petrie, Jr. was born in Sardinia, New York on May 30, 1933 to Fritz Shoemaker and Edward F. Petrie Sr. Pete loved sports as a child and was a baseball star at Arcade High School in Sardinia. He was scheduled to try out for his beloved New York Yankees farm club along with a future Yankee, Billy Martin, when Pete was drafted into the United States Army in 1953. Pete met the love of his life, Mary Perez of Leyden, Colorado during his MP training in Denver, and they were wed on July 14, 1956. They remained together for 50 years, celebrating their Golden Anniversary just last summer. Pete served his country for the next twenty years, traveling to Japan, Korea and Germany as a Military Police officer. He returned to the United States and served his last five Army years as a recruiter, retiring at the rank of Sergeant First Class (E7) in 1973. Pete and Mary were blessed with a daughter, Elizabeth, while they were stationed in Japan. After retiring from the Army, Pete went into the life insurance business and also sold recreational supplies and patio furniture. Pete's real avocation always was his family, and when Elizabeth and husband Keith blessed him with two grandsons, Craig and Steve, Pete had all he needed to keep him busy during his later years. Despite battling illness, Pete was known to all as the proud "papa" sitting courtside, or in the stands, bragging about everything those two grandsons did. Pete passed away February 25th, 2007 in Denver after an extended illness.

Pete was preceded in death by his father and mother, and stepmother Jean Petrie. He is survived by his wife, Mary of Lakewood, daughter Elizabeth (Keith) Turney of Loveland, and grandsons Craig Turney of Broomfield and Stephen Turney of Hastings, Nebraska. Also, he had three stepbrothers, Jim (Audrey), Terry (Janet), and Larry Petri, and one stepsister, Paulette (Larry) Green, all of Sardinia, New York.

Reception to follow immediately after the burial at the American Legion Post #193 at 5110 Morrison St., Lakewood, CO.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation 3151 S. Vaughn Way, Aurora, CO 80014.