Ray Perry

1938 - 2023

Ray Perry

November 6, 1938 - September 17, 2023

Claude Raymond Perry, Jr. passed away Sunday, September 17, 2023, marking the end of an active and productive life.

A graveside service will be held for family and friends at 10:00 a.m., Monday, September 25, at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco with The Reverend Dr. Leslie King officiating. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church. A visitation with the family and celebration of life will follow the service in the church parlor.

Ray was born in Waco on November 6, 1938, to Claude Raymond and Sarah Kathryn Van Zandt Perry. He attended Waco schools, graduating from Waco High School in 1957. He continued his education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in math, a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, and a Master of Science degree in industrial engineering. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi honorary engineering fraternity.

While attending Texas Tech, he married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Cochran. In 1965, Ray and Sharon moved from Lubbock to Waco. Ray went to work for his father at The Perry Company, a manufacturing company for pick-up truck accessories. Ray became president of the family business and served on two international trade commissions to Mexico to expand trade between Texas and Mexico. Sharon and Ray had two children, Kathryn Elizabeth and Claude Raymond Perry III. Sharon died in 2002. Ray later married Cynthia Woodard in 2006. They were married 17 years, until his death.

Throughout his life, Ray showed his true love of Waco with his vast amount of community service. Whether it was his tenure as King of the Waco Cotton Palace or his board service at the Cameron Park Zoo, Ray was always front and center at community activities. He was proud of his hometown, Waco.

When Ray first moved back to Waco, he immediately discovered the joy of serving his community. In the early 1970s, he served on the boards of the Historic Waco Foundation, Art Center Waco, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and more. He went on to serve on the board of Waco Rotary Club, and he was an active member of the Waco Business League as well as the Texas Tech Alumni Association. Through the years, Ray served First Presbyterian Church as deacon, elder, and as a board member of the First Presbyterian Foundation.

In 1978, Ray was elected to the board of trustees at McLennan Community College and continued to support MCC for more than 40 years, serving as board chair in 1981. In 1988, when Dennis Michaelis became president of MCC, Ray, Dr. Michaelis and Harry Harelik were instrumental in forming the MCC Foundation. Ray became the first board chair of the MCC Foundation in 1989, and the foundation now has assets of $32 million. The foundation provides 300 endowed scholarships and awards $700,000 each year in scholarships. MCC Foundation honored Ray with the M. Gordon Rountree Award for Service to MCC. The MCC faculty and staff funds a scholarship in Ray's name each year. In 2015, Ray was inducted into the McLennan Community College Hall of Fame.

Upon retirement, Ray enjoyed learning to speak Spanish, fly fishing, playing bridge, playing tennis, sailing on Lake Waco, and traveling as often as possible.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Claude Raymond and Sarah Kathryn Van Zandt Perry; his wife, Sharon; infant son, Claude Raymond Perry III; his brother, Gene Perry; and sister-in-law, Nancy Grove Perry.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Cynthia; his daughter, Kathryn Elizabeth Shirey and husband, Larry; his brother, Bruce Perry; sister-in-law, Carol Perry; his grandchildren, Sophie and Ryan Shirey. He is also survived by Cynthia's sons, Bill, Tom, and Joe Nesbitt and their children; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Ray's caregivers, Melinda Bell, Patricia Wood, Jenny Pantelicia, Beni Lupu, Luci Lupu as well as the staff of Home Instead, the staff of Interim Hospice, and the staff of the Delaney, especially Jessica and James.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to MCC Foundation, First Presbyterian Church of Waco, and Cameron Park Zoo.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com.