Manuel Joseph Perry

Manuel "Manny" PERRY (CMl) USN, Retired. beloved husband, father, grandfather and dear friend went peacefully to his heavenly home on 27 March 2024. He was born in Middletown, Rhode Island in March 1934 to Portuguese emigrant parents (Mary and Manuel) from Pico, Azore Islands. He did not speak much English until the age of six. His father was a gardener at the famous Newport Mansions where teenage Manny cut grass using a push mower.
After high school, Manny enlisted in the Navy reserves and then went on active duty in the U S Navy Seabees, in 1956 retiring in 1978. His many tours of duty included Antarctica, the Bahamas, two tours in Vietnam, one during the TET Offensive. One of his early tours of duty was in England where he met and married Tina Adams, in 1960. This marriage gave him three beautiful daughters. Nichola Baker, born in Port Lyautey, Morocco, Tammy Skidmore (deceased in 2020) born in Newport, Rhode Island and Linda Johnston born in Gulfport, Mississippi. How he loved his girls! Tina got to enjoy two of her grandsons but she sadly passed in 1986.
Manny met his second wife in Morocco. He and Judy Baker were married in 1989 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They would have celebrated 35 wonderful years together this May. Manny always said that Tina would be happy her friend was grandmother to her now five adult grandchildren. Joe (Katie) Rankin, Billy Skidmore, Christopher Skidmore, Garrett (Rebecca) Johnston, and Britney Johnston. Nine beautiful great grandchildren have been happily added to the family.
Manny was first of all a FAMILY man! He enjoyed taking the grandchildren to the zoo, Chippokes State Park and to see the sandcastles and Elvis shows at the beach. There were trips to the Outer Banks and to Waterside to tour the Tall Ships. He was a Titanic enthusiast taking them to many exhibits, even to one in Boston, MA.
He was a mechanic so he loved to fix anything that would run and enjoyed working on his collection of garden tractors. He had a green thumb, like his father, he could trim a perfect hedge, and loved to grow plants and flowers. He also loved his black cat Fraya. He liked to BBQ, to eat, especially hot spicy foods, and seafood. He loved to shell and eat peanuts in the garage with the kids, a fond memory for them. His favorite treat was anything chocolate!
Memberships include the DAV Chapter No. 26, The Antique Engine Club of Tidewater, and the Old Antarctic Explorers Association. He enjoyed attending and helping with many military reunions, including USNTC Bainbridge, MD where Judy was also stationed.
He looked forward to faithful worship, the Chaplains and fellowship at JEB Little Creek Amphibious Navy Base Chapel.
An old condition had his doctor sending him to the emergency department where he was hospitalized for five days and then transferred to Chesapeake Health and Rehab Center in mid February. He had to miss grandson Garrett's March wedding but did celebrate his 90"' birthday with a family party (Seabee cake) at the rehab center the next day. The newly weds arrived in wedding attire, to his delight. He SO enjoyed a fantastic day! The following day he started to decline. He went to Heaven day after they returned from their wedding trip. {The party was certainly a precious gift from God!}
Manny's ashes will be interned at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial State Veteran's Cemetery at a future date.
If God grants you 90 wonderful years, you WANT more, but cannot ask for more. Manny's was a life lived to the fullest. He leaves behind many happy memories and dear friends. To leave a condolence to the family, please visit grahamfuneralhome.com.