Marjorie M Perry

Marjorie Marie Perry, formerly of Southern California for many years, was born in Dayton, Ohio on Friday November 13, 1914 and passed away recently near her home in Puyallup, Washington on Tuesday July 3, 2012. She was educated in Dayton Public Schools, and graduated from Bath Township High School in Fairborn (Osborn), Ohio. On January 20, 1934, she married Delbert H. Perry in Richmond, Indiana and she began seventy-eight years of active involvement in many communities while her husband was employed in U.S. Government Civil Service for many years and while they lived in many places around the United States during his lengthy career.

In addition to being the mainstay of the family following her husband’s passing in 1976, Marjorie had many passions including her seven decades travelling as a member and officer in women’s Masonic Organizations, namely the Long Beach Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star as a Past Worthy Matron, the Ladies Oriental Shrine, Social Order of Beauceants, the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem - Gethsemane Shrine, and the Daughters of The Nile – Merret Temple. She was a former member of the Leisure World Community Church of Seal Beach, California As a mother Marjorie stressed the importance of education and service to others.

Marjorie worked outside her home as a makeup consultant with Merle Norman Company and Avon Products. She was very adept at sewing as a furrier, a trait that she inherited from her mother. As the financial secretary for her husband’s company the Perry Refrigeration Company of Chicago, Illinois she maintained the financial matters for this successful venture.

Marjorie was lovingly devoted to her husband, Delbert H. Perry, her two sons, Richard of Virginia and Thomas of Washington and their spouses, Janette and Earlene, and to her five grandchildren, Kirk Perry of Texas, Michael Perry of Virginia, Theresa Knauf of Virginia, Kevin Perry of Oregon and Heather Boshers of Tennessee and eight great grandchildren, Jamie Perry of Virginia, Michele Knauf of Virginia, Cole Perry of Texas, Addison, Ava, and Mia Perry each of Oregon, Evan and Benjamin Cash Boshers each of Tennessee, and several nieces and nephews.

Marjorie was the daughter of Urban Joseph Schmidt and Irene Marie Mort of Dayton, Ohio who was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Marjorie’s brother is Marvin Eugene Schmidt of Alpharetta, Georgia and sister is Patricia Purdin of Dayton, Ohio. Marjorie’s favorite charitable organizations were: Shriners Hospitals for Children, http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/, Disabled American Veterans, http://www.dav.org/, and Knights Templar Eye Foundation, http://www.knightstemplar.org/ktef/support.htm.

Funeral arrangements were made through Price-Helton Funeral Home in Auburn, Washington http://www.price-heltonfuneralhome.com Family services were held in Auburn, Washington and at graveside at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California http://www.rosehills.com where her two sons and daughter-in-law, Earlene read some of Marjorie’s favorite verses and quotations from the Bible, such as

“God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me” ~ Genesis 21:6

and her favorite poem

“I’m Free” which begins with the words

“ Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free; I’m following the path God laid for me”;

continues with the message “A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss; Ah yes, these things I too shall miss.” and concludes with the words:

“Perhaps my time seemed all too brief; don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me; God wanted me now, He set me free !”

Her more than 97 and one half years, was a life very well lived and enjoyed.

“Because she was so dear to us, her memory will live on

Just as the fragrance of a flower still lingers when it is gone

The beauty that was hers alone in thought is with us still

And in the hearts that love her, she lives on …

And always will.”

~

“Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating; hard working hands came to rest;

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.”