Dwight
”
Red
”
Lenord Peterson, 84, died in Shingle Springs, El Dorado County
on June 2, 2003.
Dwight “Red” Lenord Peterson, 84, died in Shingle Springs, El Dorado County on June 2, 2003. He was born Feb. 26, 1919. He was a native of Beebe, White County, Ark., and a former resident of the Gilroy area.
He was the partner of Gloria Ofria of Shingle Springs; father of Patsy Hulsey of Piru, Richard Peterson of Oxnard and the late Danny Peterson; brother of Irma McCann of American Fork, Utah, Edna Hoatman of Seal Beach, Nellie Strayhorn of North Little Rock, Ark., Ellen Reid of Frankfurt, Ind., Fran Parker of West Covina, Don Peterson of Cutbank, Mont. and Kay Martinsen of Long Beach.
A true man’s man and the last of the true American cowboys, Red left his Arkansas home at the age of 13 to join the rodeo circuit. As a child, zebras fascinated him; he always “wanted a striped donkey.” As an adult, Red crossed them and gained national notoriety for raising zonkies. He was fond of children and many a field trip was had at the Critter Cross Ranch to see these animals. “Watch your feet – the toe truck don’t come out here,” he’d say to the appreciating laughs of bystanders. Many a “horsefly,” as he called them, would leave the ranch with a custom made child’s lariat but not before Red roped them.
“Going to town” was a long adventure, as people always stopped him to talk, and Red would also make new friends, whipping out his well-worn leather pocket photo album to share pictures of his critters and their mounts. Seldom a ride through his neighborhood would pass without people inviting him in for a beer.
He led life with a vigor equaled by few. In his 80s he continued to bound over a four-foot gate rather than cause inconvenience to a lady who’d have to unlatch the gate “Now honey … don’t bother!” he’d say as he hopped over. Red was a true ladies’ man and a genuine southern gentleman. He found his lifelong soulmate in Gloria, who shared his love of people and animals. Red is the type of man that all parents hope their children will become, kind and respectful of others yet confident in his own beliefs, honest as the day is long, and even harder working.
Red was there to help anyone who asked. Red’s doctoring was renowned throughout the foothills. He had more common sense remedies that worked better than any over-priced medicine a veterinarian could provide. Red could “fix” most anything.
Red was not supposed to leave us – not now, not ever. He was bigger than life. But Red hasn’t really gone; he left too much of himself with those of us who were so fortunate to have had him in our lives.
Many people knew Red as a horse whisperer, an outstanding trainer of animals – horses and Zebras in particular – but the ones he relished teaching the most were those folks who had the unique opportunity to join him in his journey through life. One of Red’s neighbors could not encourage his horse past a certain narrow spot. “Let me try riding that horse.” Red kicked him through. “Follow me,” he called out. Behind this man, up and down hills round trip for two miles, the hapless fellow walked in those lousy cowboy boots. That poor soul never had trouble convincing the horse to move through that spot, just one of many “horse” training lessons to come.
Private services will be held. Arrangements by Green Valley Mortuary, Green Valley and Bass Lake Roads, Cameron Park.
