John H. Peel
September 14, 1962 – July 2, 2026
Memorial Services for John Peel, 63, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Chapel of Clark Funeral Home in Cairo, GA. Pastor Johnny H. Moore will officiate. Interment will be in the Cairo Cemetery, Cairo, GA. John passed away suddenly on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Costa Rica.
A “Celebration of Life” will additionally be held in Paris, TN. Time and date will be announced later. The family would like to acknowledge the special people from Costa Rica for their assistance in bringing John home. They were Raiza Moya Osa, Steven Villalobos Leon, Beau, Melina and the US Embassy-Costa Rica.
John Hoover Peel, known affectionately as “Peel John” was born on September 14, 1962, on Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base just outside of Kansas City, MO. He lived in Newburgh, NY and Louisville, KY before landing in Paris, TN where he spent most of his younger years and finally as a graduate in 1981 from Henry County High School. He went to work for the family business West Wood Wines & Liquor for the next 20 years.
“Peel John” always displayed an adventurous side with a desire for the tropics. He married the love of his life and soulmate, Alison Melissa Sexton. They moved to Panama City Beach, Florida where he established himself as a local businessman owning and managing one of the last local, historic motels on the beach known to PCB travelers as The Plaza. During those 20 years, he and his family would close the motel for 4 months in the winter and venture to various tropical destinations on their prized Silverton yacht. John enjoyed a lifetime of boating, fishing, waterskiing, motorcross and a love for entrepreneurial ventures. He was a Born-Again Christian with a deep-spiritual desire for everyone to know the truth on many fronts. John recently sold The Plaza and was anticipating his next adventure. After a short stint in Colorado, he and his wife Alison were exploring Costa Rica with the expectation of buying a property and living out a Costa Rican Pura Vida lifestyle – literally translated as “pure life. A laid-back, optimistic and deeply grateful way of living while overlooking the pristine waters of the lush tropical coastline.
Observers close to “Peel John” always said he had 9 lives, but God had a different plan this time. John’s now at peace with the Lord, his parents and Spud, Colonel and Diamond. (his loyal, beloved pets).
He leaves behind his wife of 28 years, Alison Melissa Peel; sister, Traci (Mark Totty) Peel; godson, Dustin Swain; son, Peyton Sexton; daughter, Madelyn Sexton; granddaughter, Emmalyn Sexton; and cousins, Delaney, Catherine, Liz, Mary-Martha, Catherine-Dudley, Cindy, Randy and Gary.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lt. Col Frederick William Peel, Jr. and mother, Clara “Junior” Elizabeth Peel.
