John Everett Perry (Plainview)

John Everett Perry, Jr., 83, of Amarillo passed away on Friday, April 29, 2016. A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday, May 6, 2016, in the Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel. Cremation arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. John was born on a small farm near Floydada on November 12, 1932, to Everett and Helen (Tinnin) Perry. He attended schools in Floydada and graduated from Floydada High School in 1950. He attended college at West Texas State where he played football before marrying his high school sweetheart, Christine Jones, who was also born and raised in Floydada. Two years after marriage, John was drafted into the U.S. Army and served during the Korean conflict as an MP. After his discharge, John and family lived in Plainview for 10 years. They then moved to Petersburg in 1964 where they owned and operated "The Buff" restaurant. John later worked with his father, Everett, and brother, Jerry, in the John Deere dealerships in Petersburg, Floydada, and Lockney. It was during that time that he served on the City Council and also as the Mayor of Petersburg. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served as the announcer for the annual Petersburg Day for many years. John was honored as the "Man of the Year" in 1978 for those services. It was during those years in Petersburg that John started writing columns for the Petersburg Post newspaper and did so until he moved to Plainview in 1991. He worked at the John Deere dealership in Olton for seven years and also wrote a weekly column for the Olton Enterprise. Due to health reasons, John retired and devoted his time to writing and volunteer work. He wrote a weekly column for the Plainview Daily Herald for many years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was a volunteer cook for their weekly Men’s Prayer Breakfast. He was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, Faith in Sharing, and RSVP. He also served as Santa Claus for many years for the annual Christmas Breakfast with Santa. John and Chris were dedicated supporters of their children's school and community activities, spending many hours cheering during football, basketball, and baseball games. John was beloved by his children and grandchildren for fishing trips, horseshoe pitching contests, and his gourmet "sugar pies." He was a wonderful cook who shared his talents with family and friends. In later years, John wrote three fictional novels depicting the history of the staked plains and the Llano Estacado. The novels were a tribute to the trials and tribulations endured by both early settlers and native Americans during the latter years of the 19th century. The novels were titled, The Winter Moon, followed by A Time for the Crawfish, and finally The Whispering Prairie . John was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Cammye Louise Thompson; and a son-in-law, Neill Thompson. He is survived by his "first" and only wife, Chris Perry of Amarillo; son, Mike Perry and wife Judy of Olton; three daughters, Debbie Perry of Amarillo, Becky Thompson of Royse City, Texas, Janice Luscombe and husband Jimmy of Amarillo; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. The family suggests memorials to BSA Hospice of the Southwest or any of the Veteran Charitable organizations.