Jay Eugene "Gene" Perry was born on March 24, 1915 in Philadelphia, PA to Wayne L. and Mary K. (Heebner) Perry and passed away on June 9, 2007 in Tahlequah, OK. Gene married Emma A. Ayling on March 2, 1940 in Philadelphia. A short time later he joined the U.S. Army and served his country during WWII. During his service in Italy he received a Purple Heart and later worked in Rome in intelligence. Following his service in the Army, Gene used the G.I. Bill to attend the Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada. He served as deputation secretary for the Mexican Indian Mission in the United States. He worked as a civilian with the US Air Force as an assistant chaplain for a short time and then in the personnel department for the US Air Force for a number of years. Gene served at the Rio Grand Bible Institute as an assistant to the President, Gordon Johnson. Gene and his wife, Emma, worked as missionaries on an Indian Reservation in Stilwell, OK and later came to Go Ye Village in Tahlequah, OK. While in Tahlequah, Gene served as treasurer of a local Senior Citizen's organization and was an active Board Member of Hope House. Gene was always active in Christian activities, ministries and in mission support and gave generously, and was a benefactor to many personal and mission causes. He gave generously of his time as well at Go Ye Village. Gene was a kind, loving man, who will missed by his family and friends. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Emma, and two sisters, Mildred Perry and Lillian Hill. In 1998, Gene married Margaret Hackman in Tahlequah, and she survives him along with his brothers, Wayne Perry and his wife Nita of Sparta, TN, Burton Perry and his wife Mae Alice of Heber Springs, AR, and Thomas Perry of Southbury, CT; a sister in law, Alma Ayling of Tahlequah; and a host of nephews and nieces as well as many other friends and loved ones. Funeral Services for will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 11, 2007 at Go Ye Village Chapel with Dr. Will Norton officiating. Interment will follow at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home.
(Hart Funeral Home)