Obituary of Gene W. Peet

Gene W. Peet (84) a longtime St. Maries resident and businessman, died March 6, 2013 at Hospice House in Hayden, ID after a courageous battle with cancer. Gene was born on March 13, 1928 to Bill and Loretta (Murray) Peet at Sandpoint, ID. He moved to St. Maries in 1930. He started working at age 14 as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator. He also worked as a powder man (explosives) . He worked at a local sawmill during his senior year of high school. He graduated from St. Maries High School with the class of 1946 where he was on the High School Boxing Team. Following high school, he and Bill Brebner worked together in the woods. From 1947 to 1950, Gene did construction work, timber harvesting and attended Gonzaga University where he studied mechanical engineering. He also worked as a logging contractor. In December of 1950, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served on active duty until his honorable discharge in 1953. He married Virginia Smith in 1953 and they were later divorced. Gene worked as chief electrician for the St. Maries Lumber Co. as well as working with Jerry Isler in the woods. In 1955, he started Peet Electric. He did mill maintenace and construction as well as doing electrical design work. He worked on industrial and commercial repair and residential wiring. His many accomplishments include being a licensed electrician, electrical contractor, plumbing contractor and journeyman electrician and plumber. Gene formed Benewah Cable Co. Inc. in 1957. He designed and built the St. Maries cable system. The system became operational in 1959. He was proud of the fact that he brought cable television to St. Maries before New York City had it. Gene developed cable television because he also owned an appliance and T. V. sales and service store. No one could get T.V. reception in this area, so in order to sell his merchandise , he developed the Cable system. In 1964, Gene and Tom Morris joined together on the purchase of two buildings in St. Maries, the C & M Building (Chicago-Milwaukee ) Bldg. and the American Legion Hall. In 1968 they split the buildings and Gene took the American Legion Bldg. which he ran his business out of for 40 years and Tom operated his law office out of the C.& M. In 1960, Gene lived in Moses Lake , WA and Tucson, AZ working for the Martin Co. on the Titan II missile silo's in order to raise capital for his cable company and shoe dryer business. In 1972, he helped form the Idaho Cable TV Assn. And served on the Board of Directors. He sold the business in 1984 to pursue the Peet Shoe Dryer Company. Gene received a patent on the Peet Shoe Dryer in 1968 and the following year started the prototype in the test market. In 1984, the Pete Shoe Dryer Company was established. Their product was marketed nationally. Gene married Shirley Hewitt on April 23, 1999. Gene never really retired and was President of the Peet Shoe Dryer Corp. at the time of his death. He was a member of the St. Maries Elks and Eagles Lodges for over 50 years. Gene was an avid out doors man .loving it so much that if he couldn't find someone to go camping with, he would go by himself. He is survived by his wife Shirley at the family home.. Also surviving are his daughter and son-in-law Lori and Jerry Poffenroth of Mukilteo, WA, son and daughter-in-law Blair and Bobbie Peet of St. Maries and daughter Avalyn Peet of Coeur d' Alene, ID., his sister Lois and her husband Duke Harris of Santa, ID and half-brothers Bill and wife Lori Peet of St. Maries and Truman Peet of Houston, TX and half-sister Joan and husband Clark Larson of San Tan Valley, AZ. and 5 grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of a traditional service, the family is having a Celebration of Gene's life on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Maries Elks Lodge. This will be an informal gathering of sharing memories and stories. Memorial: www.hodgefuneralhome.com Read Gene Peet's Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.