Peggy Reece Perry

She was born August 17, 1932 in Franklin County, NC. She grew up in Raleigh NC,

where she met her future husband William Everett Perry while working at the

local movie theater. They married on April 19, 1952.

They lived in Raleigh initially, but after Bill earned a degree in chemical

engineering from NC State and their first two daughters were born, they moved to

places around the country including Savannah GA, Chicago IL, Wilmington DE,

Chattanooga TN, and finally Gulf Breeze FL, where they lived for over a decade.

Their third daughter was born in Tennessee and the fourth in Florida. As the girls

grew up, Peggy took up Red Cross volunteer work at Pensacola Baptist Hospital.

When she discovered how much she enjoyed it--and how good she was--she

went to nursing school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and accepted a job

at the hospital where she had volunteered.

After many years in Florida, Peggy and Bill came back home to North Carolina to

settle in Charlotte. Peggy worked as a nurse, a part-time cashier, and a flea

market dealer before retiring.

Whether or not she was working a formal job, Peggy always stayed busy. She

sewed, collected stamps, hunted down Occupied Japan figurines and other

collectibles at flea markets and yard sales, solved puzzles, painted ceramics,

read, kept dogs and cats, and crocheted countless afghans still treasured by her

family. That all makes her sound so very domestic, but she was also a fierce

gambler. She'd settle for bingo, but what she really liked was visiting Las Vegas,

Atlantic City, and the casinos of Mississippi to win at the blackjack tables and

work the slot machines. As her eyesight and health failed, she took great

pleasure in talking to her family members and was addicted to courtroom TV.

She is survived by her husband Bill and their three daughters and four sons-in-law:

Connie Perry Spencer and husband Bill; John Holt; Robin Perry Schnabel and

husband Tony; Toni L.P. Kelner and husband Stephen. Also surviving are

Peggy's five sisters: Pat Good, Doris Hall, Judy Tolbert, Susan Tolbert, and

Debbie Haynes. Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Karen Spencer Andrews,

Kristi Spencer Brecheisen, Amanda Holt, Jennifer Schnabel, Derek Schnabel,

Michael Schnabel, Kyle Schnabel, Maggie Kelner, and Valerie Kelner. Her

granddaughter Karen gave her two great-grandchildren: Camron and Katie

Andrews.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Brenda Perry Holt; her mother Alice

Allen Cannon; and father Collis Eugene Reece.

The family will receive friends Thursday December 27th from 6pm - 8pm at

McEwen Funeral Services, Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road, Charlotte, NC

28210. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am., Friday, Dec. 28th, also at the

Chapel.