William Ross "Bill" Perry

William Ross “Bill” Perry died on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. Bill was born to Ross and Daisy Perry on September 26, 1934 in Butler, Mo., and lived on a farm in rural Urich, Mo., where he rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse. The family moved to Kansas City, Mo., in the 1940s, and Bill graduated from Central High in 1952. During high school, he worked as a skating rink attendant at El Torreon Ballroom, and as a soda jerk at Katz Drugstore in downtown Kansas City. He attended Kansas City Junior College where he met Barbara Bauer; they were married in 1955. Bill worked for IBM and General Electric as a sorting machine operator before joining the Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, and trained on mainframe computers. After the Army, he returned to work for GE, and Fairbanks Morse, Wilcox Electric, and Tension Envelope. At age 40, he opened W.R. Perry Locksmith in Kansas City North, moved the business 10 years later to North Kansas City, Mo., and retired at age 80. Bill had a long and active career in the Masons. He was a 50+ Year Senior DeMolay, a Master Mason, and a member of Alpha Lodge #659 in North Kansas City. He served a term as Worshipful Master, and was in his 10th year as Lodge Secretary at the time of his death. Bill was a member of the York Rite of Freemasonry; he was elected to the Position of Excellent High Priest, Royal Arch Masons, Liberty Chapter #3; Illustrious Master of the Cryptic Masons, Liberty Council #50; and Eminent Commander of the Knights Templar, Liberty Commandry #6. He was invested with the rank of Knight York Grand Cross of Honour. Bill was a Past Associate Bethel Guardian, Bethel 33, Excelsior Springs, Mo., Job’s Daughters International; a Past Associate Grand Guardian of Missouri, Job’s Daughters International; a Past KCJD (Kansas City Job’s Daughters) Line Officers Club Co-Sponsor, Job’s Daughters International; and he received the H.I.K.E. (Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment) Volunteer Award. He was a devout Christian, and an active member of Hillside Christian Church for 55-plus years, where he served as a deacon, elder, elder emeritus, and choir soloist. He taught children’s and adult Sunday School classes for more than 50 years; participated in Lenten services; visited homebound church members; hosted youth suppers; and supported other ministries. He served on committees and in the church office. With his wife, Barbara, he bagged groceries and stocked shelves in the HOPE.wrx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HOPE.wrx food pantry every Wednesday. For decades Bill held active membership in, and served terms as vice president and president of, the North Kansas City Businessmen’s Breakfast Club. He served several terms as an officer of the Missouri-Kansas Locksmith Association and was chapter president at his death. He was also an active member of the Associated Locksmiths of America. Over the years, he was a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy; a fundraising volunteer concessionaire at Kansas City Chiefs and Royals games; and an usher at Starlight Theater and the Kansas City Music Hall, where he once escorted Pres. Harry Truman to his seat. Bill was a loving father, devoted husband, faithful friend, good Samaritan, and adventurous spirit. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Bauer Perry, of Kansas City, Mo.; daughter Joyce Turner and husband Dean, of Wentzville, Mo.; son Ross Perry and wife Lucy, of Kansas City; grandson Beau Turner and great granddaughter Kelsey Williams, daughter of Beau Turner, of Wentzville. Visitation will be at Hillside Christian Church, 900 N.E. Vivion Rd. Kansas City Mo., at noon, on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, followed by a celebration of Bill’s life at 1 p.m. Honorary pallbearers will be Dean Turner, Beau Turner, Dennis Flanery, Troy Flanery, Glen Burrows, and Kevin Wills. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the HOPE.wrx Food Pantry, 900 N.E. Vivion Rd. Kansas City, Mo. 64118.