Patricia Hackler Perry

Patricia Ruth Hackler Perry, 92, of Carson City, NV passed peacefully on October 26, 2021. Born December 5, 1928, in Santa Ana, California, “Patty” was the youngest of three children born to Homer Hackler and Mary Hackler (McBride). She grew up in Huntington Beach, CA, graduating in 1946 from Huntington Beach High School, where she was Class Secretary/Treasurer and Founder/President of the “Career Girls” Club. She briefly attended Orange Coast College to study business and thereafter began working at Buffums’ Department Store in Long Beach. Patricia expressed much gratitude for the assistance of her paternal grandparents and her older brother, Byron Keith (B.K.) Hackler in helping her succeed in life.

While away on a weekend vacation at Soboba Springs, CA, she met her eventual husband, Carl A. Perry, with whom she embarked on a life and marriage that took them from California to Arizona, South Carolina, Georgia, back to San Diego County, and eventually in retirement to Northern Nevada. She is survived by her three children, Carol A. Perry of Carson City NV, Richard M. Perry (spouse Lisa) of Carson City, NV, and Patrick C. Perry (spouse Rachel) of Sacramento, CA, along with six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Preceded in passing by her husband Carl in 2005, Patricia also enjoyed a wonderful second life in companionship with Donald Kelchner, who she knew from her youth.

Patricia enjoyed a lengthy and successful career both in the savings and loan industry and in civil service. She was a long-standing fixture in the Operations Department at the Downey Savings and Loan in Encinitas. Later in life, she began working for the State of Nevada, where she rapidly moved through the ranks, eventually retiring as the Executive Director of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners.

Patricia loved her native home of Orange County and especially enjoyed participating in various high school reunion events. She thoroughly enjoyed travelling and going on cruises and was a frequenter of live theatre. She was an ardent lover of cats and always had one on her lap. She exhibited an unmatched work ethic and sense of resiliency that kept her always busy and positive, and she was surrounded by a wide circle of family, friends, and colleagues throughout life.

Patricia brought warmth, kindness, humor, direction, and sincerity to the many lives around her she touched, and she gave much of herself to her family in ensuring their happiness and well-being. Words cannot convey how much she will be missed.

Deep appreciation is given to the staff at Sierra Place Assisted Living in Carson City who provided Patricia and her family excellent and loving care during her time there.

A Ceremony of Life will be held at FitzHenry’s Funeral Home in Carson City, Nevada on Thursday, November 4 from 9am-12pm PST, after which she will be interred at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana. The service will be webcast from a webpage memorializing her life at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82310367559