Marion Perry

Marion Perry, 91 years old, quietly departed this life on Friday, December 23, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society - Peoria Good Shepherd Memory Care Unit, Peoria, Arizona. Marion was born on October 6, 1925, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the only child of Edith and James Ferguson. She grew up in Ottumwa, Rose Hill, and Davenport, Iowa, attending University of Iowa for several semesters, where she majored in math. Herb Perry (Marion and Herb attended the same high school) returned home from serving in WWII and Marion and Herb fell in love. They married in 1946, and raised two children: Tom, born in Davenport, Iowa, and Susan, born in Wichita, Kansas; mostly in Mount Vernon, Illinois, where Marion also served as a beloved girl scout leader for many years. Camping trips were taken with Leah (Herb's sister) and Al's family; plus, great family road trips to Texas, the Smoky Mountains, Florida, and Arkansas where Marion's parents lived. With her natural poise and wit, Marion enjoyed working as a hostess with Welcome Wagon, an office employee at First National Bank, and director of the Mount Vernon Red Cross Chapter from 1977-1987. After that she worked for over 10 years as office manager at H&R Block where her keen intelligence and math acuity served her well. During this time period, several Carnival Caribbean family cruises were taken by Tom, Susan, Marion, and Herb; one of which was in celebration of Herb and Marion's 50th wedding anniversary in 1996. In addition, Marion was an avid bridge player. In 1999, Marion and Herb both totally retired at the age of 74, and happily moved from the cold winters of Mount Vernon, Illinois, to Mesa, Arizona; purchasing a park model home in Valle del Oro where they loved the cacti landscaping and desert sunsets; using their golf cart to get to the swimming pool, coffee/doughnut chats, and potlucks. Tom lived nearby, and yearly vacations were made to California to visit Susan and tour scenic destinations like Tahoe and Yosemite. By 2011, it was time to make the move to the Good Samaritan Society -- Peoria Good Shepherd Senior Living Apartments in Peoria, Arizona. Six months later, due to failing health, Marion was transferred to the Memory Care Unit, and Herb would follow within the year. Meanwhile, Tom had moved into an apartment at Good Samaritan, and Susan to a house in Prescott, Arizona, so both were able to visit their parents frequently. Marion is survived by her husband of 70 years, Herbert Perry; son, Thomas Perry; daughter, Susan Perry; and first Mary Campbell, Fran O'Sullivan and Carol Papernik. A memorial service is to be held at Good Samaritan Society – Peoria Good Shepherd Chapel on January 12, 2017. A graveside service will take place at the family cemetery in Leando, Iowa, where her ashes will be interred over Memorial Day weekend, 2017. Marion and Herb drove there to pay their respects every Memorial Day and to attend the family reunion in nearby Keosauqua.