Our beloved friend and “Gentle Giant,” Pete Citerio Eaquinta, age 73, passed away March 11, 2026 in Price.
He was born November 24, 1952 in Price, Utah to Dominic G. and Glorya Marie Wisniewski Eaquinta.
Pete was someone who always honored his heritage and his Carbon County roots. He was a proud graduate of Carbon High School Class of 1971, and shortly after graduation, Pete hitchhiked to Montana alongside his best friend. This was quite an adventure and eventually they made it down the west coast and into California. Pete truly was a free spirit, and after returning from “The School of Hard Knocks”, he made his way back home to Price where he married Evelyn Pendleton, whom he later divorced. Later in life he met and married his best friend, Lynette Grover, on June 22, 1996 in Royal, Utah.
Pete was a dedicated worker throughout his life and held many titles. He worked for a short time as an aide at Parkdale Care Center, later finding work in the local coal mines where he spent 15 years dedicated to his coworkers and friends at the Deer Creek and Horizon Mines. After his retirement from coal mining, he dedicated his time to helping others at Castleview Hospital in the Stress Unit where he met his beloved wife, Lynette. Later in life, he was employed as a home health aide where his compassion and love for people blessed the lives of many in our community. Pete also traveled to Texas for a short time, where he labored alongside a horizontal drilling company and was well known locally as a beloved janitor at Mont Harmon and Helper Jr. High. Pete loved working with his hands and was known to many as the “Wood Butcher,” for his beautiful creations that he made out of wood.
Pete will be warmly remembered for his unwavering love and dedication to his wife, family, coworkers, patients, friends and eight children he helped raise.
He is survived by his devoted wife and constant companion, Lynette Eaquinta, Helper; son, Michael Eaquinta, Washington; best friends and cousins, Bobby & Cody Pike, Price; Lynette’s children, David (Cindy) Murphy, Layton, Aaron Clegg, Centerville, Sarah (Erving) Rivera, Layton, Matt Clegg, Glendale, AZ, Jon (Sue) Clegg, Chandler, AZ, and Tim (Amber) Clegg, Henderson, NV.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Nick Eaquinta; cousin, Danny Pike and daughter, Misty Eaquinta.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Symbii Home Health and Hospice Family for the exceptional care of Pete for the past six years.
A visitation and Celebration of Pete’s life will be held Wednesday, March 18, 2026, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street) in Price. Graveside Services will follow at 12:00 noon in the Mt. View Cemetery in Helper.
Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Pete online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.com