Betty Jane Perry

Betty Jane Perry died February 14, 2015 at Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria, Illinois. She was 85 years of age. She was born January 12, 1930 in Aurora, Illinois to Rose E. Shevlin Breed, an Irish immigrant, and Roy E. Breed, a direct descendant of a Revolutionary War officer from the Battle of Bunker [Breed’s] Hill. Her mother valued education, even though she had little, and was proud that her youngest child became a registered nurse, graduating from the St. Francis School of Nursing in 1953.

Betty married Lee P. Perry in Chillicothe, Illinois on July 5, 1953. She worked in obstetrics at Methodist Hospital in Peoria, Illinois for many years on the day shift while her husband worked second or third shift at Caterpillar so one of them would be home to take care of their two children (Sandy and Jim). Later, she worked as an industrial nurse for Caterpillar, Inc. in Mossville, Illinois, retiring after 17 years. At that time she began taking care of her grandchildren, Jon, Kathryn and Ben, three days a week while her daughter worked.

She and Lee were married 60 years. She loved to read, bake, sew, and quilt and enjoyed bus trips with Lee to various locations, including Alaska in 1987. She loved animals of all kinds, cats in particular, and supported many animal welfare and protection charities.

She is survived by her son James M. Perry, daughter Sandra J. Perry (Michael J. Woods), three grandchildren, Jonathan T. Henry, Kathryn R. Henry, and Benjamin W. Henry. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee P. Perry, her parents, two brothers, one sister, and one stillborn son, Daniel Lee Perry. Services will be at 10:00 am Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel. Pastor Jack Thompson will officiate. Visitation will be Friday, February 20, 2015 from 5-7:00 pm also at the chapel. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Tazewell Animal Protective Society [TAPS] or OSF Hospice. To view Betty’s memorial page or leave on online condolence please go to www.davison-fulton.com.