Mr. Gerald Dean Peterson age 77 of Harrells, NC passed at home on Oct. 2, 2010 after a lengthy illness. Preceded in death are his wife Arlene (Rando) Peterson, his parents Ludie Jay Peterson and Mary Hall (Gaylor) Peterson and his extended parents Carroll James Peterson and Ella Wells (Gaylor) Peterson. Also remembered are his brother John Ed (Jack) Peterson, his sister Myrtle Hall (Peterson) Jenkins and his twin sister Ester Peterson. Mr. Peterson is survived by his son John Dale Peterson his daughter Patricia Wells Peterson and her significant other John Caliguire, his granddaughter Kimberly (Peterson) Tyndall and her husband Mike, great granddaughter Madison Tyndall, great step-grandson Nick Tyndall, his brother Douglas Peterson, his sisters Vaughn Cile (Peterson) Crouch, Grace (Peterson) Hawley and his extended brothers and sisters; Jimmy Peterson, Hazel Hall, Myril Garner, Vickey Blackburn and Theodore Johnson. He is also survived by his brother and sister- in- law, Anthony and Claire Rando, his great aunt and uncle, Leona and John Defino, several nieces and nephews and their families. Mr. Peterson graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, NC and retired from the City of Waltham, Massachusetts Public School System after 40 years of service. He was also an instructor at Northeastern University, Paramedics Program and volunteered at various medical venues. He was a member of True Faith Baptist Church in Harrells where he served on the Trustees Committee. Gerald's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the love and support that they've received from the family, True Faith Baptist Church members and the community.