Peggy Joyce Whitehouse

August 6, 1937 – June 29, 2025

Peggy Whitehouse passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on June 29th, 2025, in Whitehouse, Texas. Born in Beaumont, California Peggy lived a life full of grit, humor and sass. (The doctors said she was born August 6th, but Peggy never missed a chance to correct them – it was August 5th!)

Over the years, she called many places home, including Lima, Peru; San Antonio, Texas; West Covina, Pasadena, and Fremont, California—though she spent most of her time in Angels Camp, California. Later in life, she moved to Boise, Idaho, and ironically enough, Whitehouse, Texas, where she lived with her granddaughter Heather and husband, David.

Peggy endured the heartbreaking loss of four of her children: Craig, twins Randall and Todd, and Sheri Whitehouse—before the death of her husband, Alvin Whitehouse in 2015. She is survived by her sisters: Joan Campbell and Jackie Vermillion; son Bruce Whitehouse; Grandchildren Jonelle Whitehouse, Heather Graham and husband David, Jessica Whitehouse, and Cordell Whitehouse; and 8 Great-grandchildren: Kylan, Peyton, Athena, Harrison, Reagyn, Mable, Sophie, and Ridley, who will no doubt inherit her legendary stubborn streak and fierce loyalty. Peggy would have wanted everyone to know: David was her favorite… though George and Denise Tyrolt earn an honorable mention.

A woman of many talents, Peggy worked as a flight attendant before trading in her wings to become a full-time mom, and later tax preparer. But perhaps her most iconic career move was working as the crossing guard at Mark Twain Elementary. She protected those kids like her own, with her signature no-nonsense attitude, whistle, stop sign, and absolutely zero tolerance for speeding cars. She was never one to sugarcoat things, but she sure knew how to sugar everything else come Christmastime with her famous homemade goodies, and blue-ribbon peanut butter cookies for Frog Jump. Her Memorial and Labor Day yard sales were epic, and no one left without a story, or an item she insisted they needed.

Peggy had a deep love for card games, loud laughter, and her nightly Rum and Coke. You knew you were family once you got kicked off the property then invited back for a smoke and a drink.

There will be a small family gathering in the Fall; in lieu of flowers please raise a Rum and Coke, a Margarita… or both… and toast to the unforgettable force that was Peggy Whitehouse.