My mother was my father's number one fan. Without her, he would not have accomplished a fraction of what he did. Margaret Peet took care of the household, paid the bills, took care of the pets, raised my brother and I, and cared for my father. My father was often lost in his imaginary world working on a story. He was not very good at taking care of practical matters. Margaret often referred to my father as her third "boy". My mother provided a place where he could work and not worry about the mundane. My father was not helpless, but easily became lost in his fantasy world and often forgot about the chore he had begun. Margaret clothed and fed him, monitored his health, and on more than occasion, saved his life by rushing him to the hospital. She encouraged him when he became discouraged, proof read his stories, typed the rough drafts, and offered story advice. Margaret came up with the title for "Hubert's Hair-raising Adventure". She named my capybara, Capyboppy, the title of my dad's book.

While still at Disney's studios, Bill learned he made far less money but contributed much more than many others. He became very depressed and my mother urged him to go see Walt and ask for a raise. Bill was reluctant, but my mother persisted. When my dad finally did go to see him, Walt was surprised that Bill made so little, and doubled his salary on the spot. My mother also defended his interests when the publishers tried to take advantage of him. My mother loved people and loved the natural world . She only looked for the best in people and was kind to everyone she met. Her favorite sayings were "Don't worry, be happy" and "The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings" from a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.

--Bill Peet, Jr.