Donald "Don" Ray Perry

Funeral services for Donald Ray Perry, or Don to his family and friends, will be held on Wednesday, October 18th, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Ron Philpott officiating and Mr. Justin Davis delivering the eulogy. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 17th, 2017 at Reed-Culver Chapel beginning at 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Don will be laid to rest at Freewater Cemetery in Stilwell, OK. Online condolences for his family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Pallbearers for Don include Logan Dugger, Javen Perry, Jett Kimble, Jake Cooper, Jeff Perry, Steve Perry, Ferrell Perry, and Tommy Bruner. His honorary pallbearers include Norman Fisher, Harold Thomas, Steve Young, Larry Lane, Norman Isaacs, Johnny Perry, Bob Lewandowski, Joe Knight, and Brian Harlin. Flower girls include Kaycee Cooper, Kelsey Kimble, Abigail Perry, Sommer Williams, and Kelsie Perry.

Donald Ray Perry was born on March 14th, 1939 in Oklahoma City, OK, the son of Arthur Andrew (A.A) and Zettie Pearl (Haney) Perry. He grew up in the Dry Creek community of Cherokee County, and attended Indian Day grade school, and Cave Springs High School where he graduated in 1958. He was part of a family with six brothers and sisters, Bud, Willis, A.E. “Doc”, Kenneth, Ann “Sis” and Fern and attended school. Upon graduating, he began a 48 year career serving the people of northeastern Oklahoma as a Deputy Sheriff. On August 8th, 1963, he married the love of his life and his best friend, Bobbie Gail Goingsnake. This union was blessed with three daughters and one son, Donald Jr., Donna Gail, Delana Kimble and Dana Dugger. Anyone lucky enough to know Don, knew what a remarkable man he truly was. A friend to everyone he met and a straight forthright man. He began his law enforcement career in 1968 in Stilwell as an officer then serving as the Adair County Sheriff. He resigned from this position to serve as the Chief Of Police of Stilwell for 19 years. He transferred to the Tahlequah City Police Department and then served under Norman Fisher in the Cherokee County Sheriff Department, retiring in September of 2017. Don was CLEET certified September 10th, 1969 and deputized as a US Marshall January 3rd, 1980. Law enforcement played a big part of Don’s life, but he also loved his farm, especially his cattle. From the rising of the sun to its setting, Don was working. He always had work to do in the hay fields, always had time to go to the cattle and horse auctions, attend equipment sales, and chase after his children and grandchildren. He adored his family and every moment in their company was special to Don. He liked to relax once in awhile and watch the horses race or a good western. He was patient, kind, loving and generous to a fault. He took time with every person he served on the police force and did everything possible to help whenever he could. Don did everything in life with a smile on his face, and a willing heart. His wife passed from this life in 2009, and Don continued working and spending all the time he could with those he loved. His health began to fail him and the Lord called this good and faithful servant home from his many labors on Saturday, October 14th, 2017 in Tahlequah, OK, surrounded by his loving family. Don was 78 years old. The communities he has served so faithfully will miss him for all he has done.

Don is preceded in death by his mother, Father, his beloved wife, Bobbie Gail, his four brothers, Bud, Willis, Doc and Kenneth Perry, and his sister, Ann Redden.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Donald Ray Perry Jr. “Donnie” of Stilwell, OK, Donna Gail Perry of Tahlequah, Delana Kimble and husband Jeff of Stilwell, OK, and Dana Dugger and husband Joe also of Stilwell. He leaves one sister, Fern Horne of Coweta, OK, one brother-in-law, Sidney Craig and wife Charlene of Park Hill, OK and two sisters-in-law, Norma Gruber and husband Jim of Eldon, OK and Lilly Perry of Briggs, OK. His legacy and love of life live on in his 6 special grandchildren, Kaycee Cooper and husband Jake of Watts, OK, Kelsey Dawn Kimble of Stilwell, OK, Logan Ray Dugger of Stilwell, Javen Perry of Stilwell, Abigail Perry of Tahlequah, and Jett Ray Kimble also of Stilwell, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends, colleagues, his law enforcement family, and acquaintances too numerous to mention.