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PETER REX was born July 31, 1932 to Gerald Aubrey and Norah Harris in Bristol, England. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on September 7, 2011. Peter was the very definition of a self made man. He spent his boyhood exploring the hills and dales of England, and his adventurous and independent spirit was exemplified by his sojourn on foot across Europe at the age of 19. Soon after emigrating to the United States in 1956, he discovered the mountains of the American West and settled in the Albuquerque area where he traded his desk job as an engineer for the satisfying work of designing and building custom adobe homes. Through his natural ingenuity and creative experimentation, he taught himself the trade. He loved creating useful and attractive spaces for people to call home, interviewing customers at length about their daily habits to insure that their home would be physically comfortable and provide a feeling of belonging. Having a special affinity for fireplaces, he sculpted each one personally with the loving touch of his well-worn trowel. Combining his devotion to family and work, he often worked alongside his sons Peter G. and David, who continue to produce works of art and function through the skills he taught. Peter belonged to the Church of the Great Outdoors and loved exploring the trails, back roads, and rivers of the Southwest. He was proud to have covered every trail in the Sandia Mountains with trusted hiking partner, Ken and dogs Nicky, Ned, and Ted. One of his greatest pleasures was to find the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of coffee or simple lunch in the quiet majesty of the mountains. He loved poring over maps of New Mexico to plan sweet adventures with his wife Margaret and annual trips with daughters Catherine and Norah. They always took the scenic route and enjoyed many picnic suppers on mountaintops. A cup of tea and a good joke were a part of his daily life. Whether it was tucking a rubber cockroach in the swaddles of his grandsons blanket or concocting a ruse to have his little brother kidnapped by real cowboys on his first trip to America, Peter loved to temper his serious side with mischievous pranks. He was generous of time and spirit, and always willing to make space in his full schedule to help family and friends. His spirit lives on through his devoted wife, Margaret Walden; younger brothers, Martin and Andrew; children, Peter and wife Debra Jean, David and wife Susan, Catherine Anne, Norah Elizabeth, Jeff, Jed, Andy and Eva; grandchildren, Sam, Lee, Jake and Emily; nephew Danny, and nieces, Megan and Mary. Private memorial services will be established at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Watermelon Mountain Ranch or consider sponsoring a wolf in Peters name at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary.
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