Peter Devries

Peter Henry DeVries, 70, died unexpectedly December 28, 2019 at his home in Kernersville, NC.

Born on August 16, 1949 in Hyannis, Massachusetts to Robert and Ruth DeVries, Peter is survived by his wife Delia C. DeVries (Dede), his father Robert C. DeVries, Burnt Hills NY, siblings David DeVries, Ballston Spa, NY; Charles DeVries, Asheville, NC; Jon DeVries, Cobleskill, NY; and Kathy Peters, Asheboro, NC. Also mourning his passing are aunts Lucy Duffy and Faith Brown and uncle Willard Brown of Brewster, Massachusetts and 15 first cousins.

Peter graduated from Burnt Hills High School in Burnt Hills, New York in 1967 and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology at State University of New York Oneonta in 1971. Upon graduation he was drafted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

At the time of his death, he was employed as a Project Geologist with Geoscience and Technology in Winston-Salem. He also served the community as Chairman of the Forsyth County Environmental Assistance and Protection Board.

Peter was a man of the earth, wind and water. For many years he had a goat farm and was a charter member of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. True to his training, he loved rocks. He was passionate about sailing and spent many happy hours windsurfing and cruising on Belews Lake, Pamlico Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and the Caribbean. He participated in racing regattas at Belews Lake, Lake Norman, and Oriental, North Carolina.

An avid cyclist, Peter participated in triathlons and treasured his Colnago.  Multi-talented, he loved music and played the guitar. He collected art. He was a gourmet cook who relished fine foods and sharing his culinary expertise with family and friends on many memorable occasions. A connoisseur of wines, especially French wines, Peter loved sharing the bubbly (champagne) with others to celebrate each and every occasion.

Peter’s funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel, 141 Smith Edwards Road, Kernersville, NC 27284. Online condolences are appreciated at hayworth-miller.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Music Maker Relief Foundation, P.O. Box 1358, Hillsborough, NC 27278, musicmaker.org and Piedmont Craftsmen, 601 N. Trade Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, piedmontcraftsmen.org.