Margaret E. "Eddie" Peacock

Margaret Edwidene “Eddie” Peacock was born in Walsenburg, CO on May 24, 1930 to Barney and Maude (Cash) Mintz.

The Mintz family moved to La Junta in time for Eddie to start her freshman year at La Junta High School. As a senior, Eddie was crowned LJHS Homecoming Queen and later that same evening, she was crowned Miss Rattler at Otero Jr. College. She graduated from LJHS in 1948.

During her high school years, Eddie worked at the Bluebird Cafe and later at the Cardinal Café, for her parents, Maude and Barney Mintz.

It was September 25th, 1949, that Eddie and R.E. “Sam” Peacock were married in La Junta. Over the years that followed, six children arrived. This eventually led to more marriages and grandchildren which lead to more marriages and great grandchildren. Her plan was a complete success.

You see, Eddie, always loved having the friends of her children come to their home. She enjoyed being with her family. The great bonus for all was the abundance of food they would find. Eddie was an amazing cook. Perhaps this talent came from working with her folks at a young age and realizing that good food, good conversation and good humor will harvest good times and good memories.

In 1973, Eddie and Sam moved their family to Lamar where she continued to attend baseball, basketball, and football games, wrestling and swimming meets. Her kids could always tell when Eddie was in attendance, you could always hear her cheers over all the rest.

True Story: One day, in La Junta, son Clay’s baseball team was playing and Eddie was in the stands to cheer them on. Except on that day, folks noticed a players head peek over the dugout and look to the stands. Later, another player would take a quick glance over the dugout roof looking to the stands. Finally, before the end of the game, one of the players came out of the dugout and climbed into the stands finding his way to Eddie. “You haven’t been yelling for us. Are you mad at us, Mrs. Peacock?” he asked dryly. “No, Honey.” Eddie replied hoarsely. “I have laryngitis.” There was a look of relief and he returned with the good news.

In 1984, she and Sam re-purchased the Peacock Funeral Home in La Junta. She worked with Sam serving families in La Junta at the Funeral Home until their retirement in 1992. Eddie was a member of P.E.O. Chapter W, in La Junta and a member of Chapter GD, in Lamar. Eddie loved to play cards, race horse rummy, hearts and the like with her children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. She was quite a competitor.  She would stay up late as long as there was someone who wanted to play. Eddie enjoyed the conversation and companionship that came with winning. Eddie had a special relationship with each of her 20 grandchildren. She made each one of them feel special. A testament of a good soul.

Eddie never knew a stranger. She loved their cabin-home in Cuchara and would invite people she just met to come to the mountains and visit. Eddie was a giving person. It was in her genes. The condition and comfort of others was her first thought in the morning and last thought at night. This was faithfully true to the last moments of her life. Eddie died in La Junta, CO, and will be missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, great-granddaughter, Samantha Trainor, brothers, Gene and Clyde Mintz, and sister-in-law, Peggy Mintz.

Eddie is survived by her husband of 62 years, Ralph E. “Sam” Peacock, Jr. of the family home in La Junta; children, Sam (Diana) Peacock of Helendale, California; Dan (Cindy) Peacock of Salida, CO; Jeannie (George) Larsen of La Junta, CO Clay Peacock and Brenda Jeffreys of Lamar, CO; Curt (Linda) Peacock of La Junta, CO; and Susan (Kelley) Jones of La Junta, CO; grandchildren, Jenny (Eric) Sova, Matthew Peacock, Mark (Tracee) Peacock, Jane (Rob) Pizem, Clay Peacock, Rick (Katie) Graf, Jill Peacock, Grant Peacock, Andrea (Brian) Trainor, Jessie (Joe) Trainor, Bobby (Morgan) Larsen, Malea (Joe) Munger, Alyssa Peacock and Jon Hosinger, Alex Peacock, Tessa Peacock, Ryan (Emily) Peacock, Kaitlyn Peacock, Lesley Peacock, Sheradann and Palmer Jones, 13 great-grandchildren and two more on the way and her dear friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Derek Hutchison of the First Presbyterian Church of Las Animas officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in La Junta.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 18, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Peacock Family Chapel in Lamar and also Friday, November 18, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel in La Junta.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.



In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may make memorial contributions to the Arkansas Valley Hospice, PO Box 408, La Junta, CO, 81050 direct or through the funeral home.