Marian B Perry

Marian Banks Perry, 72, passed awaySaturday, December 14th, 2013 in Longview after a courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of life will be held at the Lakeview Mauselium Chapel at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, December 17th with Pastor Jeff Borgwardt officiating.

Marian was born in Pickton, Texas to V.G. And Gertrude Banks on April 7th, 1941. She grew up on the farm, and helped raise her younger siblings, Patti Goodrich and Mike Banks. Never fond of housework, Marian would have rather spent her time reading or riding her treasured horse, Sonny. That same headstrong manner would see her excel as the majorette and drum major at Winnsboro High School, where she graduated in 1959. Later, while studying to become a Speech Pathology at East Texas State Teachers Collge in Commerce, Marian performed as feature twirler with the marching band. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962, and began a career in education that would span 5 decades in and around East Texas. Marian flourished in her professional career, which gave her satisfaction and peer recognition. Later in life, she was often stopped in the community by grateful parents or former students whose lives she had improved.

Marian met and married the love of her life, Ken Perry, in 1965 after moving to Longview a few years earlier. They soon began, to grow their tight nit family to include Mindy in 1969, and Kendra 1972.

Marian is survived by Ken, her husband of 48 years; daughter, son-in-law and grandson Mindy, Kevin, and Carter Cummings of Longview Texas; daughter son-in-law and granddaughters Kendra, Matt, Kennedy and Mallory Russell of Allen, Texas.

Marian is also survived by her mother, Gertrude Mattingly Banks of Winnsboro, Texas ; Sister and brother-in-law Patti and Dick Goodrich of Scroggins, Texas; Brother and sister-in-law Mike and Elaine Banks of Winnsboro, Texas; In-laws Jan Ponder of Longview and Bill and Caroline Perry of Lake Cherokee, Texas; Aunt Lelia Roberts of Mt. Vernon, Texas; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, cousins, and many, dear friends from near and far.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Susan G. Komen or the American Cancer Society.