Roy Ruffin Perry

Roy R. Perry passed away on June 19, 2020 at Elliotte Manor after listening to some of his favorite music with his family by his side. Roy was born on June 16, 1943 in Raleigh, NC to the late Sophia Gray Ingram and Robert Ruffin Perry. He was soon joined by his little brother, Sherrill Gene Perry. Roy spent his childhood years living in Wake Forest, NC. His family did not have much as he was raised in a mill town by a hard-working single mother. But, even then, his charming personality, intelligence, and athletic ability were apparent to many. He attended Wake Forest High School doing well in academics while playing all three major sports – football, basketball, and baseball. Several key adults in his life recognized his potential, pushed him to aspire lofty goals and helped him develop the confidence to reach them. Roy was also sociable, fun and loyal leading to many long-lasting friendships and a little mischievous trouble here and there that then required excellent use of that charming personality. Some of his childhood friends remained in touch with him throughout the rest of his life and have many stories to tell about some of the crazy things they did all along the way.

Roy met the love of his life in Wake Forest when he was 14 years of age. Marveen Addleton and her family moved to town from Georgia and she just happened to be trying out for the majorette team while Roy was practicing football one day. He saw her across the football field and from that moment on, Roy knew that he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. They talked for many hours on the phone. They met each other most weekends at the Teenage Club, the local teen hangout. Roy wrote long Valentine’s Day cards and notes and letters. He was a romantic and he was in love with Marveen. They came from different backgrounds so Roy knew he would have to prove himself to Marveen and her family in order to have a future together. After graduating from Wake Forest High School, Roy enlisted in the United States Army in February 1962. He told Marveen before he left, “If you aren’t married by the time I get home from the Army then I’m going to marry you”. He was active duty for 3 years, spending 14 months of that time in Korea doing reconnaissance missions. On one of Roy’s visits home while on leave, he made good on that promise to Marveen. He asked the only woman he ever loved for her hand in marriage and he was ecstatic (and relieved) when she said, “Yes!”. They were married on June 13, 1964 while Roy was still on active duty. He finished his tour of duty and was honorably discharged in February 1965. Soon thereafter, he joined Marveen at Campbell University. He loved college life as it fit naturally with his sociable personality. He will probably most be remembered for the night the lights went out in Buies Creek – another story that is best left out but is still laughed about to this day!! Roy and Marveen became very proud parents of their first child while Roy was a senior at Campbell University. A daughter, Jennifer Suzette Perry, was born on April 8, 1968. Despite all the fun and new parenting role, Roy also did very well with college courses. He most enjoyed his accounting classes which led him to his occupation of tax auditor. After graduating from Campbell University, Roy was hired by the NC Department of Revenue and moved his family to Charlotte, NC. Not long after the move, Roy and Marveen had a second child, a son named Alexander Ruffin Perry born September 11, 1971.

Roy was quite unique in the world of accounting and auditing. All that knew him recognized his charming, fun-loving nature which is not so common in a world of numbers and details. He could always be counted on by the department to send him out to audit some of the more difficult businesses and businessmen. He somehow always made the audit tolerable for those being audited with his astonishing ability to talk to anyone at any time about any subject matter. All that amiable charm made him a well-loved colleague. He was easy going and loved to make people laugh which made the workplace a more enjoyable place to be when he was in it. He was also an exceptional auditor with a keen eye for detail and a staunch belief in truth, honesty, and fairness. He trained numerous auditors in his office and he always felt such pride as many of them were promoted within the department. He remained with the NC Department of Revenue for 31 years retiring in 1998.

Roy was a spiritual person. He was a member at Eastern Hills Baptist Church for many years. After moving to Mint Hill, he joined Philadelphia Presbyterian Church and enjoyed the lessons taught in the Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class. Communion was faithfully extended to him at his residence by members of the Church when Roy could no longer attend church service.

Roy enjoyed many things in his life. He was a tried-and-true UNC Tarheel fan watching every basketball game over many years. He could be counted on to assist the team with his boisterous, animated, and “colorful” “corrections” from every tipoff until the clock hit 0:00 during each game from his living room armchair. He always thought they could be better, but he never gave up on them. It was a passion he taught the whole family and you could always find each of us in our own favorite chairs in front of the TV loudly, colorfully coaching every Carolina basketball game. Roy was a trivia and history buff. He played trivia at O’Neil’s Bar and Grill whenever he was there. Others eagerly endeavored to beat him finally resorting to visits into the bathroom using their phones to search Google for the answers. When even that didn’t work, he was permanently banned from participating so others could win. Roy loved watching anything on the History Channel. He was also an avid reader with his most treasured books being the Tom Clancy series. Roy also loved music – EVERY kind of music. You could often catch him on a weekend outside washing the car while “jamming” to the Drifters, the Tams, the Eagles, and any Big Band music. Roy was truly charitable giving blood to the Red Cross on a routine basis for many years. He gifted money and essential items to those in need because he knew the impact that could make for a person, as he was the recipient of some dire and timely gifts in his youth. Roy loved his friends. He enjoyed having a drink (or more) and talking and talking…… and talking with them. Everyone adored him and enjoyed his company from the time he was a young boy until even the times he was talking in a language only he understood while he lived at Elliotte Manor the past couple years.

The biggest part of Roy’s heart, though, was reserved for his wife, Marveen, and his children. Both Alex and Suzette played multiple sports growing up. He attended all the games and was notoriously the loudest cheerleader in the stands. Anybody attending those games remember hearing the classic, “RUN……..RUN……..EVERYBODY RUN!!!!!”. Roy worked extra jobs many Christmases to buy his family all they wanted Christmas morning. He and Marveen paid for their children to attend college making sure they didn’t have to worry with that financial burden after graduation. Roy was a very proud father, but Roy would be the first to tell you that he wouldn’t have been the successful person he was without having his soul mate by his side. Marveen was the universe to him. Some of his favorite songs were a tribute to his love for Marveen including The Platters’ “Twilight Time”, The Drifters’ “Save The Last Dance For Me”, and Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon”. Roy loved to travel with Marveen enjoying many trips including San Francisco, Niagara Falls, Nova Scotia, and Grand Canyon. He especially treasured the many trips to Abington, VA for the romance, culture and art; and he cherished all trips to the beach for the fun, memories, music and food. Roy loved Marveen from the moment he laid eyes on her when he was 14 years old until his very last breath on this earth.

Roy is survived by Marveen, his wife of 56 years, who adored him and showed her unwavering devotion caring for him each day through even the most agonizing end stages of dementia. He is also survived by his daughter, Dr. Suzette Perry of Kannapolis; his son, Alex Perry of Chonburi, Thailand; and his brother Gene Perry of Wake Forest, NC.

Roy fought a long, courageous battle with a dual diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia. Following his wishes to be an organ donor and his charitable nature, his family donated his brain to the Brain Support Network who work with the Mayo Clinic to research dementia in hopes of helping others diagnosed with dementia in the future.

The family would like to thank everyone from Unlimited Possibilities, and especially Elliotte Manor and Hospice of the Greater Charlotte Area for the incredible love and care given to Roy in his last years. Marveen, Suzette, and Alex wish to extend a special thank you to Dave, Roy’s caring, compassionate hospice nurse, and Coletta, the care giver who developed an extraordinarily special connection with Roy, as they both provided comfort, support and love that went above and beyond usual care.

A Celebration of Life will be held at McEwen Funeral Service - Mint Hill Chapel on Thursday, July 23rd at 2:00 pm. There will be no visitation due to protecting the safety of all attending. For the chapel celebration, social distancing will be observed and donning a mask will be appreciated by the family.

Donations in memory of Roy may be made to any of the following:

 Brain Support Network, a non-profit charity that helps families accomplish brain donation

at brainsupportnetwork.org or email at [email protected]



National Association of Veterans & Families, an organization dedicated to providing direct

assistance and benefit coordination for better living and health services for veterans and their

surviving spouses at no cost to the veteran or spouse.

1300 Cooks Lane, Green Cove Springs, Florida, 32043

Phone # 904-394-3908 NAVF.org or email at [email protected]