Jean Hiler Perryman

Mrs. Jean Hiler Perryman, age 97 of Vestavia Hills, Alabama died Sept. 13, 2012. Born September 20, 1914 in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Leander Bert and Ethel Montgomery Hiler.

Mrs. Perryman attended the University of North Dakota and graduated from Northwestern University with studies in Speech and Dramatics. During her college years she worked at Yellowstone National Park and along with her sister Betty and her brother-in-law climbed Mount Rainer. She loved the outdoors, boating, swimming, ice skating and gardening. She travelled extensively in Europe with her husband but loved most entertaining her friends and family in her home.

Mrs. Perryman moved to Birmingham in 1941 after her marriage to W.J. Perryman, Jr., Chairman of the Board of The Statesman Group, Inc.

Mrs. Perryman was a long time member of The Country Club of Birmingham and was an active member of the Les Soirees Supper Club, Hob-Lit Club, The Encores, Lake Guntersville Yacht Club, and The Ocean Reef Club in North Key Largo, Florida, where she spent her winters entertaining family and friends. She was an active member of Shades Valley Presbyterian Church, The Women of the Church, and where, for many years she produced and directed the Christmas Pageants. During her tenure as President of the American Society of Arts and Letters, she wrote and produced a prayer program for the Festival of Arts that included a performance by the Opera singer Rachel Mathis.

She was preceded in death by her husband, W.J. Perryman, Jr., and her sister Betty H. Sacker. She is survived by her children, W.J. Perryman III, (Ellen), Guntersville, Alabama, Ann Perryman, North Palm Beach, Florida, Jeanie Perryman, Vestavia Hills, Alabama, her sister Mary Ann Helley, Brainerd, Minnesota, Carolyn H. Fiero, (Terry), Goodhue, Minnesota and her dear cousin Jane Palmer, West Covina, California. Her grandchildren, Alexandra P. Langenberg (Bret), San Diego, California, Emory P. Lydick (Chris), Cary, North Carolina and great grand children, Carson Langenberg, Parker Langenberg and Nash Lydick.

Mrs. Perryman and her family would like to express their deepest thanks to her wonderful caregivers for all their love, help and support, Mrs. Dana Robertson, Mrs. Peggy Shaw, Mrs. Vanessa Liveoak and Mrs. Dee Melvin, and the wonderful staff of Home Instead Senior Care.

Funeral Service will be Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at Shades Valley Presbyterian with burial to follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. at Ridout's Valley Chapel.