Stephen Allen Peregoy

Stephen Allen Peregoy entered eternal rest on Thursday, July 30, 2015, in Laredo, Texas, at the age of 67, following a valiant battle with Brain Cancer.

Born on February 4, 1948, in Charlottesville, Virginia, Stephen grew up in a military family, and as such was raised throughout the Unites States, Canada, and Germany.  In his adolescence, the Peregoy family settled in Biloxi, Mississippi, a place Stephen would come to consider his home town.  He would often refer to himself, while among close friends and family, as being “just a poor ol’ boy from Mississippi, just trying to get by in life,” a saying which always garnered a good chuckle.

In June 1970, Stephen entered into public service upon joining the United States Border Patrol, and thereby introducing Stephen to South Texas, where he would eventually spend the remainder of his life.  Having enjoyed a storied career within the Border Patrol, Stephen proudly served in the Hebbronville, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and finally, Laredo, Texas, duty stations throughout his over 28 years of service.  Having worn many badges, Stephen entered the Border Patrol as a Patrol Inspector, before said title switched to Patrol Agent.  Later in his career, his badge would read Investigator, then Special Agent, and followed by Supervisory Special Agent, all during his tenure working as part of the Border Patrol’s Anti-Smuggling Unit.  Stephen would remain with the Anti-Smuggling Unit until his promotion to Assistant Chief Patrol Agent, in 1988.

Always diligent in performing his official duties, Stephen was a 1984 recipient of the Newton Azrak Award, the Border Patrol’s highest honor, bestowed upon applicable agents for their extraordinary contributions, service, accomplishments reflecting unusual courage or bravery in the line of duty, and/or an extraordinarily heroic or humane act committed during times of extreme stress or emergency.

Stephen would eventually retire from the Border Patrol in 1998, at the age of 50, after achieving the position of Assistant Chief Patrol Agent.  Upon retirement, Stephen, a jack-of-all-trades kind of man, kept himself busy with frequent projects, rarely stopping to take a break.  Throughout his life, and continuing into his retirement, Stephen spent a good portion of his time riding motorcycles, and a fair amount of time working on them as well.  As a former member and past president of the local Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Texas XV Chapter, Stephen, known to his biker brothers as the “Silver Fox,” made numerous memories with fellow lawmen alike who shared in his passion for iron horses.

For as much as he loved motorcycles, Stephen thoroughly enjoyed ranching and hunting.  Between the months of November and January he was rarely found within city limits, as he would persistently be out looking for the “big one.”  This too was a past time Stephen shared with his family and most near and dear friends, a tradition dating back to his 1970 arrival in South Texas, and now carried on by his sons.  Shifting between whitetail deer and wild hogs, Stephen, colloquially known at the ranch as the “hog whisperer,” racked up numerous stories to share over the years, each of which will continue to be shared over and again.

Stephen was a dedicated family man who passed along many valuable lessons to his children and grandchildren alike.  In recent years, one of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren, and passing along all the Peregoy traits that made him the person he was.

Stephen lived every single day of his life, and not many people can have that said of them.  He possessed a strong work ethic and a certain way of doing things that garnered respect from many individuals.  Stephen was allowed the privilege of sharing his life with his loving wife, children, extended family, and some of the best friends a man could ever be blessed to have.

Stephen is preceded in death by his parents, Ashby Allen Peregoy, Sr., and Verna Irene Peregoy.  He survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Janice M. Peregoy; children, Cynthia Ann (Woodrow) Overton, Richard Stephen (Sylvia) Peregoy, and Robert John (Margaret) Peregoy; grandchildren, Caitlee Michelle, Sophia Noel, Arnold Adalberto, Riley Olivia, Woodrow Leo, Jackson Alexander, and Stephen Richard; siblings, Joan Noel (Troy) Craft, Donald Gordon (Leigh) Peregoy; Carol Ann (John) George, and Ashby Allen (Diane) Peregoy, Jr.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Stephen requested to be cremated.  The Peregoy family would like to thank and recognize the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Brain and Spine Center, and Dr. Ivo W. Tremont, M.D., and staff, for their constant, attentive treatment.  The Peregoy family would further like to thank Dr. Ildefonzo Flores, M.D., and staff for their local assistance and guidance throughout this trying time, in addition to the Fred Dickey Funeral and Cremation Services, for their comforting handling of all funeral arrangements.  A very special thank you to Stephen’s sister, Carol Ann George, for her much dedicated, selfless, and tireless assistance in Stephen’s final weeks of life.  In memory of Stephen, and in lieu of flowers, the Peregoy family kindly requests donations be made to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Brain and Spine Center, in Houston, Texas.

The family will be receiving friends, Tuesday, August 4, 2015, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 7:00 pm.

Funeral arrangements are by Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services, 1320 Trey Dr. Laredo, Texas (956)723-3611.  You may leave condolences to the family online at www.freddickey.com