It is with the heaviest hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Pete Mays on December 5, 2019. He was a loving husband, wonderful father, devoted brother and son, faithful friend, generous coach, considerate co-worker and an easygoing, funny and all around great guy.
Born in Portland on December 13, 1953, to Wanda Towe Mays and Carl William Mays, Jr., Pete grew up in the Hayhurst neighborhood and graduated from Wilson High School. He followed in his big brother Steve’s footsteps and attended Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) and joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity. It was through Sigma Chi that he made many life-long friends and memories. His graduation from OSU coincided with the final game of the Portland Trailblazers' 1977 NBA Championship series. He attended the graduation but followed the game on his transistor radio during the ceremony!
After college, Pete began his career with Pepsi Cola in Portland, OR. He started there as a driver and retired after 36 years as a market and restaurant account manager. He was known fondly as Pepsi Pete to his customers. Pete was well loved by all of his co-workers and clients. It was here at Pepsi that he met his wife of 31 years, Teri Augustyn.
Pete was most proud of his two children, Claudia Mays and William “Billy” Mays. He was affectionately known as “Disneyland Dad” because he made the fun stuff happen, from chocolate donuts every Saturday morning, coaching their baseball/softball/basketball teams, catching pitching practice, to going on bike rides and impromptu beach trips.
Pete could make friends with anyone and was interested in their story. Always easygoing, Pete was quick to crack jokes and bestow many friends a nickname. Honestly, we still don’t know some of his friends’ real names. He loved to be the forever jokester and his family begged him to get new material.
He was the type of guy who couldn’t sit still even for a moment. Ever active, he was a passionate mountain bike rider, off-road enthusiast, traveler and concert-goer. His friends recounted that he was always up for any adventure or activity. He particularly loved his cars and could be seen most Saturdays down at Cars & Coffee. The real cars weren’t enough; you could also find Pete driving his RC Jeep rock crawlers on makeshift courses.
An avid sports fan, Pete could rattle off stats for both his beloved Beavers and Blazers, as well as just about any other team and sport. He also loved attending the OSU tailgates and recruiting dinners with his fraternity brothers and friends.
When diagnosed with Lymphoma, many friends asked, “What can we do?” He was quick to invite them to come up to the hospital and bring him meals. His schedule was booked! Thank you to all the friends who helped - you made all the hospital stays bearable.
Pete wanted to make sure to thank his wonderful doctors and nurses at Compass Oncology, Providence Medical Center and OHSU for their care and compassion.
He is survived by his wife, Teri; children, Claudia and William; and brother, Steve.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2019 at 2:00 pm at St. John Fisher Catholic Church with a reception following at Old Market Pub & Brewery. Pete had a soft spot in his heart for the Children’s Cancer Association as he could not imagine those darling children enduring what he went through. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to this organization.
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