Jonathan McCart Peterson

PFC Jonathan N. (McCart) Peterson, age 19, died Friday, May 25, 2007 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney as a result of an automobile accident.

He was born September 11, 1987 in Liberal, Kansas to Valery A. (Lira) McCart. He graduated from McCook High School in May of 2005 and joined the U.S. Army on July 26, 2005. He attended basic training in Fort Jackson, SC and AIT in Fort Gorden, GA. He was then stationed at Fort Lewis, WA and then transferred to Rose Barricks Army Base near Vilseck, Germany where he was an Information Systems Operator and Maintainer and worked specifically as a Local Area Network Manager. He was home on leave at the time of the accident.

Jonny was also an organ donor. His heart, liver, both kidneys and pancreas were able to be placed into needy recipients.

He was preceded in death by his great grandfather, D.J. Perez and great grandfather, Manuel Vieyra; and best friends, Clayton “Claytumbo” Pierson and Christopher “Botz” Botsford.

Survivors include his mother, Valery A. McCart of Cambridge; two sisters, Jessica M. Peterson & son Nikolas Malleck of McCook and Jayme L. Peterson of Kearney; grandparents, Jesse & Delores Lira of Hays; great-grandmothers, Mary Gomez of North Platte and Rosie Perez of Wellington, Kansas; three uncles, Johnny Lira and wife Marla of Ulysses, Kansas, Jeffrey Lira and wife Carrie of Ottawa, Kansas and Rick Littlejohn & wife Steffanie of Maize, Kansas; cousins, Kory Lira of Ulysses, Kansas, Lesha (Lira) Doyle and husband Sterling and son Connor of Ulysses, Kansas, J.P. Lira and Levi Lira of Gothenburg, Kansas, Jessica Littlejohn of Wichita, Kansas, Jamie (Littlejohn) and husband Pvt Nick Farinas of Wichita, Kansas; and best friend Chase Pierson of McCook.

Rosary was Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook with Father Gary Brethour officiating. The funeral service was Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the City Auditorium with Father (CPT) Brian Kane officiating. An honorable military burial took place in Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in his name.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook was in charge of the arrangements.

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