IN MEMORIAM

EXPANDED EULOGIES

“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.

Pauline McPheeters

Services for Pauline Mae Truax McPheeters, 100, who made her escape from time’s tethers Nov. 17, 2025, to see her creator face to face, with no pain and no limitations, will be Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

A graveside committal will be 10 a.m. at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Peabody. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at First Peabody Baptist Church. Pastor Roger Charles will officiate.

On Sept. 19, 1925, Pauline was the first of five children born to Robert Andrew Truax Jr. and Ruth Iris Amyx Thomas Truax.

During her 100 years, she survived the Great Depression and World War II.

As a youth, Pauline chose to come out of the condemnation she was born into at a revival promoted by the Reverend Johnson of the First Baptist Church in Peabody.

On January 20, 1946, she married schoolmate Irvin Leroy McPheeters, son of William John and Ella Eberhard McPheeters.

Pauline lived at a Peabody address her entire married life. More than 50 of those years were on a farm two miles south and one east of Peabody’s Potter’s Corner.

While living there, they had two sons, Phillip Warren and Neil Kevin. They also had six grandchildren, five step grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren.

Pauline and Irvin had several unofficial foster kids and grandkids, of which Smith and Kasti ring some bells.

Exchange students from around the world resided under the McPheeters roof at different times.

Those going on before her were an unnamed, uncuddled baby; both of her parents and parents-in-law; her brothers, Edward and Lawrence; sister Irene; sister-in-law Vi; brother-in-law Vance; and a great-grandchild, Wyatt.

Groups and activities she was part of over the years were Country Squares Square Dance Club, Stitch and Chatter, a benefit basketball game between Peabody High School women and PHS Alumni Women, a group that put together alumni books, Willing Workers of First Peabody Baptist Church, an Election Board member, and a Sunday school teacher for 50 years.

After retirement, Pauline was an active member of Peabody Historical Society, including helping shingle the historical society building’s roof.

Memorials may be made to Peabody First Baptist Church or Historical Society of Peabody and left in care of Petersen Funeral Home, Newton.