February 8, 1969 – May 20, 2023
Tony Scott Peterson, 54, Fishers, passed away from cardiac arrest on Saturday, May 20, 2023, with his loving wife by his side. He was born to Kevin Peterson and Brenda (Peterson) Reed on February 8, 1969, in Greenfield, Ind.
Tony has been a lifelong resident of Hamilton County and the surrounding area. Tony’s parents divorced while he was young and in his early childhood, he gained a stepmother, Carolyn Peterson, stepbrother Tim Lawson, and stepsister Pat Schaefer.
A favorite childhood story involves the three siblings: they decided they wanted a pool and Dad told them if they dug it, they could have one. They got about three feet into the process when they realized this was going to be way more work than they thought, suffice to say, they did not get the pool.
Tony attended Hamilton Southeastern High School. He was an avid sportsman in his youth, playing football, competitive swimming, and running track. Perhaps the best gift he obtained from his education there was meeting the love of his life Monica (Dell) Peterson at the age of 15. Tony often joked about marrying an “older woman” as Monica is a whole six weeks older than him.
Tony served the community in various professional capacities over the years, his background was in construction, and he used his skill set freely with his friends and family. After volunteering for Hamilton County Emergency Management for six years, he was asked to join them as an employee and served as the Logistical Staging Area Manager until his passing. His favorite perk of working for the Hamilton County Emergency Management team was working alongside his wife as she serves as the Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator for the HCEM.
Tony was a proud Freemason of Indiana. He followed in his family’s footsteps and was raised a Master Mason at Hamilton County Masonic Lodge No 533 in 2003. Five generations of Tony’s family were Freemasons. Several of them joined the Scottish Rite, but Tony decided to follow in his great-grandfather’s footsteps and join the York Rite in 2005. Tony had a very distinguished career in Masonry with his Lady Monica ever at his side. He was an amazing servant to the fraternity, always willing to use his skills and expertise when called upon. He has served as an aide to the Grand Commander or Deputy Grand Commander since 2010. He had the honor of becoming a Grand Prelate Emeritus in 2013. Received the honors of KTCH – Knight Templar Cross of Honor in 2017, and KCT – Knight Commander of the Temple in 2021. Tony served as Grand Sentinel for Grand Council in 2022 and Marshal for the Grand Chapter in 2018. Both Tony and Monica could be found running hospitality rooms, organizing bus trips, taking photos, providing sound equipment, and running banquets on an almost weekly basis to serve the fraternity he loved. He leaves a huge hole in the fabric of the Masonic Brotherhood and his presence will most certainly be missed. We take solace in the knowledge that he will enter that celestial lodge in heaven, to that house not built with hands, eternal in the heavens where he will hear the words, we all seek, “Well done, they good and faithful servant”.
Aside from his active participation in his Masonic endeavors, Tony had a passion for photography, rock music, and travel. He loved going to Minnesota to visit Monica’s Family and take pictures. Tony shared a love of projects with his father-in-law John Dell; those two would often be found tinkering and talking. His mother-in-law Betty Dell would always bake him coconut cream pie. Monica joked that perhaps her parents liked him better since she prefers a blueberry pie, but Betty would always insist on baking for Tony. Tony enjoyed hearing about and celebrating the latest accomplishments of his stepson, Jon, whom he raised as his own. Tony shared his love of photography with his brother-in-law Steve Cooper, and Steve, along with his wife Tanya and daughter Hannah, will certainly miss Tony’s quiet strength and abiding family love. Tony has enjoyed a special kinship with his “Buddy” Caleb; he has known him and helped care for him for the last 14 years. Tony and Caleb shared a bond beyond a simple friendship.
Tony could be a bit quirky and was a fan of visiting the “World’s Largest” whatever he could find and making memories with good friends and family. Capturing moments on film or in person drove Tony into his love of travel and friendships. He was a tall man in stature, but he had a gentle warrior’s heart. If you saw him in a crowd, you might think he was quiet, but if you sat beside him, you heard all the best comments and jokes. He purposefully tried to make everyone’s life around him easier and more joyful. He loved his wife with every inch of his being and the partnership they shared is something to be envied.
Tony was preceded in death by his father, Kevin Peterson. He is survived by his loving wife Monica (Dell) Peterson; mother, Brenda Reed; and children, Jon Persinger and Chris Peterson.
The family would like to invite you to attend the celebration of life services on Thursday, May 25. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Services begin at 7 p.m. The Templar Memorial service will be given by John Freeland. The Masonic Memorial service will be performed by Chris Steele; he is the same Mason that performed the service for Tony’s father. Following those, the Grand Commander of the State of Indiana Randy Ellington will officiate a personal memorial. We encourage you to bring your best fun, funny and loving stories either from memory or written down so that we can all participate in the memories. The family knows that while this is a sad circumstance, Tony’s life was about finding joy, love, and laughter amid life’s ups and downs, and that’s how they’d like to honor him.
Services will be held at Randall & Roberts Fishers Mortuary, 12010 Allisonville Road, Fishers. Celebration of Life, viewing, and visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. and the service will begin at 7. The public is welcome to attend the Masonic Funeral Services; they are a beautiful tribute to a man who honored the pledge of the fraternity to “make good men better.”
In honor of his love for the Order of Knights Templar, memorial contributions can be made in Tony’s name to the Indiana Knights Templar Holy Land Pilgrimage Fund, c/o Randy Ellington, P.O. Box 335, Shelbyville, IN 46176. The purpose of the Knights Templar Holy Land Pilgrimage Fund is to send credentialed Christian Ministers on a Biblical study and historical/cultural immersion experience who would not have the opportunity otherwise.
Condolences: randallroberts.com