July 25, 1929 – August 12, 2021

Richard Thaddeus Peltier, 92, of Manvel, entered God’s glory on Thursday, August 12, 2021.  He was born on July 25, 1929 in Danbury, Texas to the late Ronald Samuel Peltier and Blondina Anna (Imhauser) Peltier.  He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church and of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Community of Manvel.  Richard grew up on Hoskins Mound in Danbury, Texas surrounded by his extended family.  He would play, hunt, and fish with his cousins every day.  The uncles even built a “school bus” to haul all the kids to the Danbury school.  His cousins started calling him "Chet" while they were all playing marbles.

After serving in the U. S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954, he met and married Irene Kucera on January 17, 1955 at Sacred Heart Mission on the Scanlan Plantation.  They raised their family in the Alvin/Iowa Colony/Manvel area.  He was a soybeans and rice farmer in Brazoria county for over 30 years. He continued to raise cows throughout his life.

Chet was a life-long learner.  He went to Danbury public schools, enjoying school and playing sports, including six man football.  But, his high school graduation did not stop his learning.  He believed in learning new ways to do things and using a bit of common sense.  He read the paper daily and would provide his thoughts on the goings-on in the world.  He was always looking for ways to do things in a better or different way.  He taught us how to fix things before they fell apart.  He loved talking about the best way to catch a flounder by walking along the bank and slowly bouncing the bait off the bottom.  He enjoyed helping at the Knights of Columbus fish fry, frying that catfish just right so people would keep coming back.  He was a drainage expert, having put water on his rice for over 30 years.  He would often discuss his concerns about flooding and how drainage needs were not being met.  When we drove around the area, he would recall farming that land and the issues with the drainage there.  He was an excellent cook.  His turkey and dressing brightened many a holiday.  He would make us Friday night crawfish creole with rice long before it was a trend. 

Chet worked with his cows and fixed fence until only a few months ago.  He was real happy that his new bull gave him 14 new calves in the pasture; their snowy white coats brightly shining in the sun.  He liked to pick blackberries in season in the pasture.  He loved to pick and crack pecans, saving them for the winter months.  His hunting adventures with his brothers and cousins always made us laugh.  He enjoyed hunting ducks, geese, and deer.  His fishing trips included catching catfish barehanded up in the rocks and gigging flounder at night holding his lantern.  He would take the time to fish at the Surfside jetties with Uncle Slo when the speckled trout were biting.  He enjoyed taking his kids and grandkids fishing and crabbing and eating our catch as soon as we got home.  He would shuck and slurp his oysters right out of the shell, sometimes right where he had found them.  He was a better than average 42 domino player, usually guessing what you had in your hand before it was played.

Richard also helped in his community.  He was a member of the Brazoria County Texas Farm Bureau and on the board for over 30 years.  He served on the Manvel School Board during the consolidation with Alvin ISD.  He was a lifetime member with the Alvin-Manvel Knights of Columbus.  After his service to our country, he was a member of the American Legion.

Chet focused on making people feel better.  He was polite, always thanking the nurses and doctors who helped him.  Sometimes, he would tell them a joke or a story—just to make them smile.  He would say that now they have something to laugh about when they eat lunch.  He would give his family tips on how to do things.  Whether you were receiving a lesson on how to step off of a curb (sideways so if you fell, you wouldn’t land on your face) or how to stay silent when someone was arguing with you (they aren’t listening anyway), you knew that he wanted to help you, to make you feel better.  His grandkids loved his crazy hat collection.  He loved to make them smile.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald Samuel Peltier and Blondina Anna (Imhauser) Peltier, brothers Jerome, Edmund and wife Catine, Wilfred and wife Margaret, James, and Thomas and wife Lexa, and sisters Catherine Peltier Hechler and husband Vincent, Dorothy Peltier Morrow and husband Dwain, and Sister M. Ronalda Peltier.

Richard is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Irene Kucera Peltier, daughters, Jackie Peltier Horn, Lisa Peltier Liverman and husband, Stephen Liverman, his sons, Richard Jr and his wife, Jean, Keith, and Bryan and his wife Michelle.  His nine grandchildren were his joy, Justin Kacz, Jacqueline Horn, Gary Horn, Jr. and wife Monica, Heather Ivey Ballard and husband Brian, Hunter Ivey, Hayden Ivey and wife Jordy, Mariette Peltier, Bryan Peltier, Jr. and Lyssa Peltier.  He was blessed with great-grandchildren, Carter Kacz, Landon and Caroline Ballard, Dominic and Sofia Horn, and Anthony Horn.  He is also survived by his sister-in-law Esta Peltier.

He has numerous relatives and friends who remember his big, mighty grin and loud, contagious laugh.  You know what I mean!

Friends are cordially invited to attend a visitation with the family from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Monday, August 23, 2021 at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, TX 77546, (281) 992-7200. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 P.M., with a short visitation and praying of the Rosary prior to mass, on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 6502 CR 48, Manvel, TX 77578, with Rev. Trung Nguyen officiating.  Interment will follow at Manvel Cemetery.

Pallbearers are his children:  Jackie Peltier Horn, Richard T. Peltier, Jr. and Jean, Keith Peltier, Lisa Peltier Liverman and Stephen, Bryan Peltier and Michelle; his grandchildren:  Justin Kacz, Jacqueline Horn, Gary Horn, Jr. and Monica, Heather Ivey Ballard and Brian, Hunter Ivey, Hayden Ivey and Jordy, Mariette Peltier, Bryan Peltier, Jr., and Lyssa Peltier.

Honorary Pallbearers are his great grandkids:  Carter Kacz, Landon Ballard, Caroline Ballard, Dominic Horn, Sofia Horn, and Anthony Horn; family and friends:  Raymond “Freck” LeCompte, Ricky Kucera, Leo Divin, Francis Roberts, George Tacquard, and Steve Wleczyk

Condolences may be sent to the Peltier family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.