Public Celebration of Life ceremony for Mayor Pettis announced

A Public Celebration of Life ceremony for Cathedral City Mayor Gregory Pettis will be held on Feb. 1.

Pettis passed away Tuesday at the age of 63. He was sworn in as mayor this year weeks before his sudden death.

Pettis was the city’s longest-serving council member in the City’s history, having first being elected in 1994. He was also the city’s first openly gay public servant in Cathedral City history.

“Mayor Pettis will be remembered for his progressive legislative ideas, supporting civil rights and social justice for all people, and at the same time, working hard to bring economic development to the city he loved to call home since 1979,” read a release issued by Cathedral City Communications/Events Manager Chris Parman.

Read the full invitation below:

Watch: State, local leaders remember Cathedral City Mayor Pettis

The ceremony will be held at the Big League Dreams Sports Park at 33700 Date Palm Drive on Friday, Feb. 1 at 10:00 a.m.

Several dignitaries from federal, state, county and local representatives along with family members of Pettis, city staff, friends, and colleagues will be present at the ceremony. News Channel 3’s Patrick Evans will serve the as the ceremony’s emcee.

The ceremony is open to the public to share their memories and pay tribute.

A large crowd is expected to attend. With the limited parking at Big League Dreams and Cathedral City Public Library, the SunLine Transit Agency is offering free shuttle service between Cathedral City’s downtown parking structure next to City Hall and at Big League Dreams.

The shuttle service will pick-up the first group of riders up at 9:00 am and will provide shuttle service back and forth through 1 pm.