Donald W. Perry's Obituary
Donald Wayne Perry, age 79, went to be with his heavenly Father on Tuesday, July 5, 2016. Don was born July 9, 1936 in Marshall, Texas to Mel and Roy Perry. At age 17, he met the love of his life, Anna Pierce, whom he married about a year later. On June 3, 2016, they celebrated 61 years of marriage together. Next to his faith in God, Don's greatest joy was his family. He was dearly loved by his three children, ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many close friends.
Don worked as an electrician for a short time before entering the life insurance industry. In 1958, Don and Anna started their family by welcoming their first son, Donald Kyle, into the world followed by a daughter, Kimberly Ruth, three years later. He began his career in 1962, in Carthage, Texas with Reliable Life Insurance. In 1972, he was promoted into management moving his young family to Longview, Texas. At the age of 37, Don and Anna were surprised with a new addition to the family, Kirk Pierce, which helped keep them young through the years and allowed Don to spend many more years at the baseball fields and basketball courts. Don was passionate about his family and making memories through travel, camping, boating, and water skiing. He especially enjoyed bird hunting with his father, brothers, and sons along with running cattle and taking care of the family farm. After retiring in 1996, Don and Anna were blessed to travel across the United States and abroad including many cruises and a trip to China to support their grandson’s team, the MAC Gators, who participated in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, James Earl Perry, Louis “Bub” Perry, and sister Cora Margaret “Lee” Perry.
Don is survived by his wife, Anna; son, Kyle Perry and wife, Kaye; daughter, Kim Cleary and husband, Bill; son, Kirk Perry and wife, Chandra; grandchildren, Kristen Hudson and husband, Robbie, Karlene Ketcham and husband, Brian, Brice Cleary, Breanna Peterson and husband, Benjamin, Keeton Perry, Kylen Perry, Brett Cleary, Kade Perry, Kooper Perry and Kipton Perry; great-grandchildren, Kaelyn, Rylan and Rhett Hudson and Cass Peterson; sister, Charlotte Perry and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Don’s life will be held Friday, July 8 at 2 p.m. at Alpine Church of Christ where he was a longtime member. In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial gifts in Don's honor to his grandson Brice's sports team, the MAC Gators, which participates in Special Olympics. Checks may be written to ICAN (Intellectually Challenged Adult Network), a 501(c)(3) non-profit group, c/o Debbie Steele, Treasurer, 4003 Lacy Court, Arlington, TX 76017.
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