Obituaries & Tributes

Peter Gerard Carson

Peter “Pete” Gerard Carson, 68, passed away at his home in Cottage Grove on March 20, 2020 from coronary artery disease. 

He was born Oct. 17, 1951 at March Air Force Base, Calif. where his father was stationed as a military officer/pilot. Pete’s parents, Robert Leo Carson and Mary Evelyn Carson, welcomed him into their family as their third baby boy. 

Over subsequent years, the happy family grew to include three sisters and two additional brothers. It is rumored that Pete always had fun devising pranks and mischief that surprised and (usually) amused his siblings. 

One of Pete’s best childhood memories was when his father was transferred for overseas duty in the Philippines, the whole family got an adventure trip across the ocean onboard a military transport ship.

After his father’s military service was done, the Carson family bought a house in Burlingame, Calif. and settled there permanently. Pete graduated from Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo in 1969, then started studies at a local college. 

Soon, however, the lure of a different adventure side-tracked him. He hitchhiked cross-country to New York to attend the now famous Woodstock Festival. After that, he traveled to see other parts of the U.S., Mexico, and Central America. Eventually, Pete settled into learning automotive mechanic skills, and pursued that line of work successfully for many years.

Throughout his life, Pete’s main interests involved just about every recreational activity that he could do in the great outdoors. He always loved sunshine and the beauty of nature. As often as possible, he went fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, skiing, tube floating, camping, or even working in the yard at gardening and landscaping for fun.

In 1977, he met a girl from Kalispell, Mont. named Jeri Storaasli. They fell in love and a year later got married in El Paso, Texas, then had over 40 years enjoying one another’s company. His auto mechanic work was handy for them since he could always find work no matter where she got transferred during her military and civil service assignments. 

Before retiring to Oregon, they had shared several previous homes in Texas, South Korea, Nevada, Virginia and California.

Peter was preceded in death by his father, Robert Carson, and by his brother, Christopher Carson. He is survived by mother, Mary Carson, of Burlingame, Calif.; wife, Jeri Carson, of Cottage Grove; and by his siblings and their spouses and families: Robert and Marina Carson, Cathy Carson, Colleen Carson, Terry and Keith Broomhead and family; Monica and Gary Shirey and family; Barbara and Jon Todd and family; John and Caroline Carson and family; Tom Carson; and Mary E.B. Carson.

A public memorial gathering is not planned due to social-distancing guidelines to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. In lieu of flowers, a donation to any worthy charity of one’s choice would be appropriate to honor this delightful man. Peter Carson will be remembered fondly and missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Instagram

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

The Chronicle (@thechronicle1909) • Instagram photos and videos