Peterson, Dee L. Jr.

popular 20 year-old Commerce Oklahoma athlete and airforce overseas veteran, died at 9:30 o'clock Friday night in Miami Baptist hospital, about 24 hours after he had suffered injuries in a highway mishap. His death was attributed to a massive hemorrhage from a concussion, according to an attending hospital physician. The doctor said Peterson evidently struck his head on a shotgun, which he dropped in the road as he lost his balance and fell from the bed of a moving pickup truck three and a half miles west of Narcissa Oklahoma on the Bluejacket Oklahoma road at 10 o'clock Thursday night. The Commerce youth, on leave from the Army for the past three weeks, was returning from a rabbit hunt with three other members of his party when the mishap occurred. His companions were Jack Meiers, Clifford Sears and J. B. Harrold. Sears was driving the vehicle, Trooper Garland Peek said. Peterson was due to have been discharged from the Army as a corporal on Dec 15th after serving 20 months in the airforce, eight months of which were overseas duty on Guam. He had been employed at the Eagle-Picher Power Plant west of Cardin Oklahoma. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at the First Christian church in Commerce. The Rev. Hutson will officiate. The youth, who was graduated from Commerce high school in 1944, was a star football player. Entering Oklahoma A and M college at Stillwater Oklahoma the following summer, he played one season and lettered as a lineman there before entering military service in March, 1945. Survivors are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dee L. Peterson, 215 South Walnut Street; one sister, Celia Ann Peterson; and two brothers, Lawrence Peterson and Wesley Peterson, all of the home; and his grandparents, Mrs. Mary Shouse, Commerce; Mrs. Tillie Morrison, Pikeview Colorado, and H. P. Shouse, Commerce. Military rites will be performed at the grave in G.A.R. cemetery of Miami by members of the American Legion post of Commerce. Pallbearers will be Bill Haynes, Bob Rutherford, Jack Meiers, Clifford Sears and J. B. Harrold all of Commerce, and Ted Grissom, Okemah. Goodson - Durnil funeral home, is in charge.