Clifton Peck

Clifton Bolen Peck III was born Feb. 28, 1914 in Winchester, Kentucky to Ella Dean Brooks Peck and Clifton B. Peck, Jr. They predeceased him, as did his two older sisters, Dorothy Peck Argo and Pauline Peck Luft. His is survived by his wife, Joyce Power Peck; son, Patrick B. Peck and wife, Betty, of Gulfport, Miss.; daughter, Patty Peck Christie and husband, Jeff, of Jackson, Miss.; and son, Dr. Cliff Peck IV and wife Deane. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Cadden and Cody Christie, Payton, Lindsey and Cliff V (Breaux) Peck; his niece, Anne Argo Sanders and husband, Sandy, of Spartanburg, S.C.; great-niece, Lorraine Way and husband, Winston; and great-great-niece, Elizabeth Way, of Charlotte, N.C.
His early years were spent in the country outside of Covington, Tenn. When he was six, the family moved to Memphis, Tenn. After graduating from high school, he attended Memphis State Teachers' College and left school to travel Arkansas as a salesman for General Mills cereals for a brief period. In the mid-thirties, he became a salesman for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, selling movies to theaters throughout Arkansas. He liked to reminisce about promoting Gone With the Wind when it was released in 1939. In 1941, he purchased the movie theater in Covington, Tenn., and moved back there. He was drafted and was discharged from the Army in 1944. Soon after that, he learned of television and thought that movies would become obsolete and sold his theater. The pent-up demand for automobiles after the war made him decide to go into the automobile business and he began his lifetime career working as a salesman for the Hull Dobbs chain in Memphis. He soon moved into management and managed dealerships in Memphis, Cleveland, Houston, Cincinnati and Dallas.
In 1958, he met his wife in Dallas and they were married in Lovers Lane Methodist Church. About a year later, they moved to Cincinnati for six months, moved to Evansville, Indiana to manage a Ford store, and in 1962 he had an opportunity to work in Atlanta, Georgia for a Chevrolet dealer, Tim Timmers. After five years, he was given a Chevrolet franchise in Little Rock and early in 1969, he moved into his new building and was active until the ‘90s. He retired to his farm and until two years ago, he was able to enjoy the country life. After having heart failure, his physical activities were curtailed, and he was not able to work physically, although mentally he was still active. During the course of his career, he was able to help many people be successful in the business he loved. He started a number of other dealerships or bought and sold existing ones. These included Honda dealerships in Jackson, Miss., Pine Bluff, Conway and Bentonville. He also had Toyota stores in Fort Smith and Florence, Alabama, as well as a Chevrolet franchise in Austin, Texas. He was instrumental in helping a number of people own their own dealerships.
Cliff's first and foremost love was for his God and His churches, followed closely by his love for his family. He had many friends across a broad spectrum and in many states. While in Dallas, he helped in building Lovers Lane Methodist Church, and in Atlanta, he helped in building St. James Methodist Church. He was one of the founders and charter members of St. James United Methodist Church here in Little Rock and was the first chairman of the Administrative Board. He served in many different areas and was active in building each phase of the church, and was made an Honorary Trustee for life. His interest in churches extended beyond St. James. He helped in the financing of the Methodist Church of the Tetons in Jackson, Wyoming, as well as Mountainside United Methodist Church in Hot Springs Village, and donated advice and money to help First Christian Church in Maumelle get started. He was a supporter of Camp Tanako and Mount Eagle Camp. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Methodist Foundation in 1980 and served faithfully until 2002. He was a supporter of many of the smaller Methodist churches in Arkansas, usually at the behest of the current Bishop or Rev. John Miles, a retired Methodist minister living in Hot Springs. In time and resources, his generosity has been too numerous to relate or even determine. Even when traveling, on Sunday he always stopped at a Methodist church and, to the chagrin of his children, greeted everyone as though he were in his home church.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but all are quite certain that he is in a much better place. We know that he was welcomed by his family and friends, Paul Galloway, Dick Butler, Tom Shipp, Rowe Hill, Jim Cottey, Allen Bullard, Bob Bearden, Ralph Clayton and others too numerous to name. We thank God for Christian friends.
The family thanks the Heart Hospital, University Hospital for Medical Services, Dr. David Lipschitz, Dr. Delbra Caradine, Tonya's Home Health Services (Tonya, Shonda and Kiki and others), Hospice Home Care, the entire staff of St. James United Methodist Church, Dr. Ray Jouett, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Honea, and the many other friends who have given him and this family their love and care during his last months with us. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his memory to the Building Fund or the Endowment Fund of St. James United Methodist Church, the UAMS Hospital in his memory or a charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 14, 2006, at St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock. A reception will follow the service.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, (501) 224-2200.