RAY FREDERICK PERRY

RAY FREDERICK PERRY, 95, of Fort Gay, W.Va., passed peacefully from this life on October 14, 2016. He follows his beloved and deeply missed wife, Lois, who passed away on February 25, 2014. He is survived by his loving children, Connie (Walter) Crenshaw Jr., Linda Perry, Michael Perry, Marty (Jerry) Ferrell and Carol Perry; six grandchildren, Kimberly Crenshaw, Stephanie (Louis) Marchesi, Walter (Kimberly) Crenshaw III, Lauren (Andres) Garcia, Martha (Ben) Edler, Emma Perry; and eight great-grandchildren, Blue, Piper, Jamie, Toby, Maliyah, Dominic, Olivia and Isaac. He was loved and admired by everyone in his extended family, including many cousins, nephews, nieces, and their children and grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Violet Perry, brothers, Roy and Joseph Perry, and brother-in-law, Don W. Jameson. Ray was deeply loved by his sisters, Helen Jameson of Doylestown, Ohio, Rhozella (Bill) Arnold of Kooskia, Idaho, Kathryn McCloud of Fort Gay, W.Va., Mary Madsen of Huntington, W.Va., brother, Philip (Shirley) Perry of Concord, N.C., and sister-in-law, Lottie Perry of Fort Gay, W.Va. Ray was born in Wayne County, W.Va., on May 21, 1921, the oldest of eight children. After graduating from high school, he worked at Ashland Oil refinery until he enlisted in the Marines. He served in the U.S. Marines 3rd Division in World War II in the Pacific Theater, including landings on Guam and Iwo Jima. He was involved in communications and worked closely with a group of Navajo Code Talkers during the war. Ray married Lois Mary Pickering on May 25, 1946. He attended Temple University on the G.I. Bill, graduated with a degree in Accounting and was hired by Procter and Gamble. Throughout his 30-year career at P&G, he and his family lived in many different states, finally settling in Cincinnati, Ohio, until his retirement. He retired in 1979, and returned with Lois to his beloved West Virginia to live on the family farm on the banks of Mill Creek in Wayne County. In retirement Ray and Lois were very active in Nativity of Our Lord Church in Wayne, W.Va. For many years he provided volunteer tax assistance and was also a member of the local ham radio club. He enjoyed gardening, working on latch hook rugs, and was a very talented handyman. Throughout his life he was fond of sharing his love of nature with family and friends. The Celebration of Life service for Ray will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 19, at Nativity of Our Lord Church, 40 Bridge St., Wayne, WV 25570. Memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy (www. nature.org) or the charity of your choice.