December 14, 1940 – February 14, 2026
John Peel’s physical ticket to the universe expired in mid-February, although all who knew him are sure he’s still soaring out there, freer now to experience the nebulae, the vastness of it all.
He was predeceased by his parents, David W. Peel, Jr., and Mary C. Briscoe Peel; siblings, Mary B. Peel Marquess, David Peel III, and Barbara Peel Shaw; niece, Jill Marquess McKenna; nephew, Sam Peel; and great-nephew, David K. Marquess.
He is survived by nephews Steve (Judy) and George of Bentonville, great-niece Stephanie Throop (Dustin) and great-greats, Elizabeth Howard, Harlow, James and Samuel Throop, all of Centerton. He is also survived by cousin, Betsy King Dunkle of Shreveport; and nephews Mark and Alan Shaw of Grapevine, Texas, and Sequim, Wash., respectively.
John’s early years were spent in Little Rock, but in the early 1950s the family returned to Bentonville, where John graduated from BHS in 1958. He attended ASTC (now UCA) for a year then began his long trip through the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Weekends and summers might be spent in Bentonville, where he was a charter member of Bentonville Ban the Bomb. Upon receiving an Education degree in 1967 he taught at a high school in Kansas for a year. Foregoing that vocation, he and first wife Barbie returned to Fayetteville where he worked at several jobs on campus and around town.
John was a regular at the Swinging Door, Maxine’s, and other local establishments. In 1971, he became a charter member of the Weedy Rough Coop, spending many hours but never residing on the property. He began working at Dickson Street Book Store in 1982 and remained there until his passing. He made friends with possibly hundreds of co-workers and thousands of customers with his wit, memory and helpfulness.
John had eschewed ownership and maintenance of automobiles in the 1990s. The family is indebted to the several close friends who ferried him to the store and doctor and went on “adventures” he might propose.
The family and friends will host an informal memory and story celebration Sunday, March 15, at the Peel House Gardens and Museum in Bentonville from 1-4 p.m.
Remembrances to begin at 1:30. Bring a picture of him, one he took and printed, a bit of poetry or wisdom from him. Plans are being formed for a scholarship to be set up in his honor.