A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, and uncle, Horace Lee Pete passed away peacefully on March 21, 2019. Horace was born April 20, 1955, in Greenwood, Florida to the union of the late Benjamin and Lossie Bryant Pete.
Horace graduated from Mariana High School in Marianna, in 1973 and received BA and MBA degrees from the University of West Florida. While attending UWF, Horace was initiated into the Beta Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and subsequently became a life member.Â
Horace began his career in Finance and Accounting with the Monsanto Company which spanned 25 years in various professional and management roles. He was most recently employed as Executive Manager of Internal Audit at Novus International. Â
Horace was a devoted member of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. where he served as a mentor and advisor to numerous young men as chair of the Kappa Leadership and Development League, an organization aimed at developing the leadership talents of high school boys. Â
Horace believed in living life to the fullest, he enjoyed dancing, traveling, and simply hanging out with friends.  In 2007, Horace started the Dining With Friends dinner club. DWF is still going strong and has hosted dinners for as many as 30 people who have become lifelong friends.Â
Horace is survived by his wife of 21 years, Melva Ruff Pete; three children–son Benjamin (Joleen) Pete, daughter-Nikki Pete both of Atlanta, GA; daughter Karen Pete of St. Charles, MO; one grandson-Benjamin Alexander Pete III of Atlanta, GA; seven siblings, Geraldine Pete Patterson of Woodbridge, VA, Helen Pete (Harold) Murray of Monroe Township, NJ, Joanette Pete (William) McClain of Winston-Salem, NC, Shirley Pete Peoples of Manassas, VA, Dennis (Evelyn) Pete of Pensacola, FL, Wallace (Arvella) Pete of Clifton Park, NY, Antoinette Pete (Harvey) McCorvey of Davidson, NC; one cousin Anndreze (Ronald) Mangum of Pensacola, FL; a loving mother-in-law Rev. Aileen Wynne; sisters-in-law Kimbery Ruff and Sharon Ruff  of St. Louis, MO; former wife Marilyn Pete-Mills of Mobile, AL;  a host of  nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Louise Pete McNeil of Greenwood, FL.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy and love be made in memory of Horace Lee Pete to:  ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter, 2258 Weldon Parkway, St. Louis, MO 63146.
