Peter Frank Cortelyou of Leawood, 75, was welcomed home through heaven’s gates after a brief illness on February 11, 2022 with his wife and three daughters by his side. A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 17, at Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64113, followed by a private interment.
Pete was born in Kansas City on November 30, 1946, and was a lifelong resident. He attended Border Star, graduating from Southwest High School in 1965, where he was All City in Football. Additionally, Pete graduated from The University of Missouri - Columbia with a B.S. in Business Administration and The University of Missouri - Kansas City with a Juris Doctor. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. His entire working career was with Tnemec Company, Inc., a paint manufacturing company founded by his grandfather, Albert C. Bean, in 1921. Pete began working in the plant making paint as a teenager, eventually rising through the ranks of the company to become President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, a position he held until his passing.
Pete was a loving husband, father and grandfather, with a gentle and humble spirit, who found in his grandson, his fellow train buddy. He was an avid Missouri Tiger and Kansas City Chiefs fan who treasured his many weekends and summers away with his wife and daughters to the Lake of the Ozarks for nearly 40 years.
Peter was preceded in death by his father, Frank Morgan Cortelyou, Jr., his mother, Betty Bean Cortelyou, and his son in law, Daniel Alan Cowart. He leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Deborah; his daughters Alycia Cortelyou, Lauren Cortelyou Cowart, Kristen Cortelyou and sister, Betty Ann Cortelyou; grandson, Samuel Frank Cortelyou.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to City Union Mission or The Light House, 11300 Saint Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044.
