Alvis "Pete" Franklin Bentley

JULY 23, 1936 - MARCH 2, 2023

Alvis "Pete" Bentley was born on July 23, 1936. He passed peacefully with his family by his side on March 2, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rob and Lula Mae Bentley, his wife of 54 years, Violet Neely Bentley, brothers William Morgan (W.M.) Bentley and Donald Dean Bentley, and sisters Maxine Bentley, Lillie Pearl Tallent and Dortha Nell Moyers. He was a member of Union Grove Baptist Church.

He grew up in the farming community around New Market and Walnut Grove. He graduated from New Market High School in 1954 and married Violet in 1955. After high school, Pete attended diesel mechanic school in Chicago. He then worked at various places, such as Thiokol, Genesco, and the city vehicle maintenance shop, where he worked on police motorcycles and other types of vehicles, before going to work as a diesel mechanic at the Allis Chalmers tractor dealership in Huntsville from 1960-1970. While working there, after supper with his family he would go to the building next door that he rented from Durwood Satterfield and do mechanic work on cars to make extra money. In 1970, he quit the job at the Allis Chalmers dealership to start his own business, Pete's Garage. In 1974, Pete converted that business into Pete's Auto Parts. Violet and all six of his children worked beside him at some point throughout the years in his business, from which he retired in 1999.

Pete loved tractor pulling, both as a spectator and as a participant. In addition to building pulling tractors and driving them in tractor pulls, during the time he owned his business he played a part in helping to put on the Hazel Green Tractor Pull at Hazel Green High School each year.

After his retirement, Pete loved to restore Allis Chalmers tractors. He has at least one of the entire "D" Series of tractors in his collection. He was so proud of those tractors, especially when he saw them all lined up in the New Market Christmas parade with his sons, grandsons, great-grandson, and friends driving them. He sometimes wore a t-shirt that said, “JUST ONE MORE TRACTOR I promise!”

Pete was a knowledgeable mechanic. He taught the boys in the family mechanical skills by working with them as they repaired various vehicles or restored tractors. A lot of tractor repair knowledge has been lost with his passing.

Pete was a dedicated family man. He was a loving husband, and showed his love for Violet by taking good care of her at home for four-and-a-half years after she had a stroke. He took very seriously his responsibilities to provide for his wife and children. When one of his children’s teachers suggested the family was eligible for government assistance simply because of the number of children in his household, he was insulted and said, “I can take care of my own kids!” And he always did. Not just financially, either.

Even though he worked five and a half days a week, he always had time for fun on the weekends. His kids remember that he always had motorcycles, or a boat, or some kind of truck or car he was “fixing up.” They remember rides around the block on his motorcycles (the little ones rode on the gas tank!), trips to the lake in Scottsboro for Sunday boating, and camping at Tim’s Ford. Pete loved people, and some of his happiest times were hanging out at the campground at Tim’s Ford with family and friends while they cooked big meals and enjoyed time with them after a week of working at the parts store.

In his later years, Pete loved to meet his friends for coffee at various places around Hazel Green and Meridianville. Most recently, they met at Cassie’s in Hazel Green and the Waffle House in Meridianville. A special “thank you” to the staff of these places who have helped him these last few years. He had several special friends that he would see there every morning when he was able. For a long time, it was every single day. In later years, when sickness sometimes prevented him from going, his kids knew he was feeling better when he told them he’d gone to the “coffee shop” that morning!

Pete loved his church family at Union Grove Baptist Church and had a special connection with his pastor, Bro. Billy Langford. He enjoyed the time he was able to attend church, and really liked to talk to Bro. Billy about tractors, or anything else!

Pete is survived by: his sons, Kent, Bobby (Wanda Hill) and Jacky (Sandy) Bentley; his daughters, Vickie (Thomas Earl) Tunstill, Denita (Greg) Sharpe and Kristie (Jason) Pierce; his brother Solon (Virginia) Bentley; sister Delores Bentley; sisters-in-law Margarette Bentley and Marie Bentley; brother-in-law Ernest C. Moyers, Jr; sister-in-law Wanda Neely; his grandchildren, Dewey (Leanne) Bentley, Clayton (Meaghan) Bentley, Lisa (Nick) McCollum and Aaron Pierce; his great-grandchildren, Caden Bentley (fiancée Brett Britton), Rileigh, Savannah, Rheagan, Maddie and Kelcie Bentley: his step-grandchildren, Sally (Michael) Cramblit, Sara (Justin) Ashley, Jessica (Rory) Overcast, Austin (Stephanie) Sharpe; and his step-great-grandchildren, Trever, Casen and Kadee Cramblit, Madison, Nolen and Emery Ashley, Rylee Overcast, Bryce Hale and Mason Sharpe. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and many special friends and former customers that are too numerous to mention by name but you all know who you are. His face would light up when he saw you. He will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Union Grove Baptist Church

1498 Butler Road

New Market, AL 35761