Pierce (Pete) Harold Worcester, 81

Pierce (Pete) Harold Worcester, 81, of Hayden, was born June 28, 1930, in Redding, Pa., to Harold and Amazetta (Pierce) Worcester. He grew up in Harrisburg and graduated from Lock Haven State Teachers College. Pete served in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas, for two years during the Korean War.

He married Karen (Nelson) Worcester in 1977 at the Fern Grotto in Kauai, Hawaii. Pete lived his life as an entrepreneur. He taught one year and coached his basketball team to the State Championships. He worked for his father's dry-cleaning business, then decided to follow the sun by going to Florida, Arizona and eventually Hawaii in 1962 where he spent the next 40 years.

Pete opened Pete's Modelcraft, a hobby shop in Ala Moana Center and expanded to four shopping centers across the Hawaiian Islands. He sold that business and became a distributor for Kirby Vacuum Cleaners, then eventually became the supervisor for the Asia Pacific Division of Kirby.

An avid sportsman, Pete enjoyed basketball, football, diving and wrestling in school and has been known to consistently hit 25 of 25 free throws. He was a scuba diver and a lifeguard. He enjoyed ping pong, horseshoes, darts and relished in besting opponents many years his junior, but his first love was tennis which he played until he was 80-plus and won a gold medal for his age group.

Pete was a people magnet, loved to trash-talk his buddies and had endless energy for work and fun.

He belonged to a wood working club and spent many hours carving and making bowls.

To the family he is known for his colorful eccentric wardrobe choices and gift giving. If there was a gift from Pete - everyone took a step back to avoid it, though it was always a lot of fun.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father; and his son, Michael Worcester.

Pete is survived by his wife, Karen; brother Joe Worcester of Dillsburg, Pa.; daughter Sandee (Worcester) French of Hayden, Shari Worcester of Edgewood, N.M., Terri (Worcester) Rybacki of Scottsdale, Az.; son Rande Worcester of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; step-son Michael Warrick of Seattle; grandchildren Jonah and Ellie Worcester of Loughrey, Ireland.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, funeral services will be held at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden, followed by a gathering at Hayden Lake Country Club. The family is asking for donations to Hospice in lieu of flowers.

Please visit www.yatesfuneralhomes.com to view his obituary and sign the online guest book.