Harold Perry

Dr. Harold T. Perry Jr., 86, professor emeritus and former chairman of the orthodontic department at Northwestern University, Chicago, died Feb. 3, 2012, at home in Florence, Ore. He and his late wife, Lynn, had retired to Florence in 2000 from Elgin, Ill.

Dr. Perry was born Jan. 26, 1926, in Bismarck, to Isabel McGillis Perry and Dr. Harold T. Perry. He spent many hours in the outdoors with his brother, Duncan, and enjoyed hunting and searching for arrowheads along the Missouri River. He participated in Boy Scouts, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

He left Bismarck High School during his senior year to join the U.S. Army, 109th Infantry, 28th Division, serving in the Hurtgen Forest, Rhine Crossing, and Central Europe. After his military service, Dr. Perry was a firefighter in Montana. He attended Bismarck Junior College and the University of North Dakota. He earned his D.D.S., M.S.D. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University Dental School.

Dr. Perry mentored more than 360 residents at Northwestern University Dental School. He served as chair of the Department of Orthodontics for 25 years and earned professor emeritus status in 1992.

Dr. Perry lectured on the temporomandibular joint, craniofacial pain and neurophysiology internationally and published extensively.

In Elgin, Ill., Dr. Perry practiced orthodontics in the Tower Building for over 42 years. He had 24 associates in his private practice and was known for his kindness, generosity and sense of humor. After retirement, Dr. Perry was a visiting professor at Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.

Dr. Perry's interests included hunting, fishing, canoeing, photography, music, poetry and the archaeology of the Plains Indians.

Dr. Perry could not have accomplished all he did without the love and support of his wife, Mary Lynn Moss Perry, to whom he was married for 52 years. As a parent and grandfather, he will be remembered for his jokes, stories, compassion, unconditional love and support.

Dr. Perry is survived by his son, Ty (Karen), Florence, Ore.; his daughter, Dana Perry Tanner (John), Kansas City, Kan.; and four grandchildren, Dylan, Max, Luke and Mary.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lynn; and a brother, Duncan.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. PST Saturday, Feb. 25, at Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw, Florence, Ore.

Remembrances may be made to the Siuslaw Middle School Library, 2525 Oak St., Florence, Ore. 97439; the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, Wash. 98109; or a favorite charity. (Burns Riverside Chapel, Florence Funeral Home)