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Story Archives: George Rufus Perry


George Rufus Perry
posted Thursday, August 14th, 2008 @ 8:38 amE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
Funeral Services for Mr. George Rufus Perry were conducted at 3 p.m. on Tuesday August 12, 2008 at Gorsulowsky Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Preston Holder, pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, officiated and was assisted by Rev. Bill Treadway pastor of Ida Baptist Church and Rev. Jerry Means.

Internment followed at the Bethsaida Cemetery in Ida, LA.

Mr. Perry passed away on Sunday August 10, 2008 in the Ida home in which he was born on January 31, 1923 to John Lake and Nora Cox Perry. There he was raised with his older brothers Oscar and Guy and sister Clifford. He graduated from Ida High School in 1940. He proudly served his country in WWII in the US Army Air Corps.

As a young adult he began a life long career with Esso Oil Co. and moved to Ferriday. There he established himself as a very dedicated civic leader, having been named Ferriday "Man of the Year" numerous times. In 1955, he was a co-founder of the Kiwanis Club. As a project, the Kiwanis started a baseball program which was to become the Ferriday Dixie Youth Baseball program. Mr. Perry served as president of the league for almost 50 years. He also held positions as district, state and national director.

At the opening ceremony of the 1979 season, the officers and directors honored him by naming the park, George Perry Field.

Mr. Perry loves his church, Ridgecrest Baptist, where he served as Sunday School Superintendant for many years prior to his illness in June 2006. It was at that time that he moved back to his home in Ida to be cared for by his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers and niece, Pat Childress Patten.

He is survived by his sister, Clifford Childress Graves of Ida; his nephew Jim Childress and wife, Marti, of Haughton; nieces, Peggy Stewart and husband, Jim, of Baton Rouge, Mary Ann Shields and husband, Baron, of Belcher; and sister-in-law, Mable Perry of Baton Rouge. He leaves numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Lake Childress, Mark Patten, Dale Montgomery, Mark Montgomery, Jim Stewart and Baron Shields.

Honorary pallbearers were the 1955-2008 Ferriday Dixie Youth Baseball players and officials, Ellis Taylor, Emmett Keating, Gary Hinton, Albert Chapman and Clarence Bowlin.

The family would like to extend its appreciation to the sweet staff of Harmony Life Hospice. We would also like to thank special friends and neighbors Emmett and Dottie Keating. Also a special thanks to his doctors, Dr. John Haynes, Dr. Michael Futrell and Dr. Lawrance Drexler. Finally to the following ladies, thank you for treating Uncle Bob like a king the last two years of his life. You are great! Rose Markham, Misty Dempsey, Gloria Roland, Christy Herring, Pauline Terry, Dottie Moore, Tursa Irwin, Amy Hindsman.

The following poem was written for Uncle Bob. We feel that it is befitting:

I got the phone call Sunday morning that I had been dreading for over two years,

When I saw Aunt Clifford's caller I.D., it confirmed my dreaded fear.

Our beloved, George Rufus Perry, (Uncle Bob) had passed from this world that day,

But, facts and figures about his life are not what we, his family, want to say.

He was a unique man, he genuinely cared about other people and enjoyed helping others.

Love is not a strong enough word for the way he felt about his sister and brothers.

And in return, he was cherished by his siblings, nephew, nieces, and their families,

We want to honor his life of dedication to God, country, community and those in need.

Not many people understood the special relationship our family shared with our uncle and brother,

Our spouses learned quickly that he was not "just an uncle" or "sibling" to each other!

Friends often wondered why we gave him so much attention---they didn't understand,

That's because they were never "blessed" enough to be "family" to this special man.

We always knew that he was proud of us, and interested in our lives, relationships, and accomplishments,

He listened tirelessly to our "talent shows" and often stepped in to settle our childhood rants.

I guess, because he had no children, we shared a special place in his heart,

Our fathers died many years ago, so, I think he wanted to do an extra part.

He was respectful to everyone he met, and enjoyed the respect that others showed him in return,

His extended family included his "church family," neighbors, Kiwanis, and the many he showed concern.

Part of his heart belongs on the Ferriday, Louisiana, Dixie Youth Baseball field, named in his honor,

Our family was able to attend and surprise him on the night that this honor was conferred.

His home for many years was in Ferriday, but, Ida, his childhood home, was in his heart,

It is fitting that he spent his last days on earth where he loved, and where he got his start.

His precious sister, Clifford, took care of him over his lifetime when he was ill, and to the end,

They were more than brother and sister, they depended on each other, and were each others best friend!

Because we know he is with our Lord and Savior, we will not mourn for him today,

We will honor the life he lived, and know that we who are Christians, will be with him again one day.

If we get assignments in heaven, I'm sure that his love of music will find him singing with the angel band,

He is celebrating with Jesus with a pain free, perfect body, and waiting to greet us with his loving hands.
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