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Established 1948   Funeral services for Brenda Lu Ray Perry were held Friday afternoon in the First United Methodist Church of Sherman with Dr. Jim Pledger and Dr. Tom Peel officiating. Burial followed at Cedarlawn Memorial Park. After a lengthy battle with ovarian cancer, Brenda Perry passed away Tuesday, April 27 at Texoma Medical Center at the age of 62. Brenda was born June 13, 1947 in Oklahoma City to the late Wenfred and Aileen (Hughes) Ray. She and Ronnie Perry were married on July 4, 1998 in Sherman, following a family midnight lake cruise under a fireworks-filled sky. The bride brought a freezer of homemade peach ice cream as her wedding gift to Ronnie. As a lifelong teacher, Brenda had a passion for working with troubled youth. She taught in Houston, in Bonham at the State Prison, and for over 10 years in Sherman at the S1SD Bootcamp before health issues forced her retirement in 2009. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Sherman. Brenda is survived by her husband Ronnie of Sherman; four children, Emily Jane Krueger of Sherman; Daniel Simmons and wife Ashlee of Katy; Priscilla Chloe Perry of Sherman; and Jacquelyn McCarty and husband Taylor of Tom Bean; two grandchildren, Daniel Gregory Simmons and Amelia Lynn Simmons, both of Katy; two sisters, Linda Ray Levy and husband Dale; and Virginia Ray DeFrees and husband Steve, all of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Margaret Kloppers and husband Pete of Sherman; and several nieces and nephews. Her parents preceded her in death. Brenda met the love of her life at the curbside garbage cans between their houses. Next door neighbors Ronnie and Brenda fell in love over a dozen years ago and began a new life together. She supported him in every endeavor from driving the golf cart to attending countless Bearcat and SMU Mustang games. Following their honeymoon in Canada, their travel adventures included cruising Alaskan waters and the Caribbean, going to Hawaii for a football game and visiting 49 of the 50 states. Their annual quest was to see all of the Academy Award nominated films and to then compare their favorites to the actual winners. Brenda Ray Perry was a giver of hope. She didn't believe in pity parties. She was a nurturer with an attitude. Her life work was with children and youth who had travelled rough roads. She was an award-winning teacher whose Bootcamp students made documented, unprecedented progress. She was a six-decade Boston Terrier fan and leaves behind her cherished and spoiled "Gracie", for whom she cooked chicken breasts and rice. Every dog wanted to be one of Brenda's dogs. Brenda led her Girl Scout troop on field trips they recall to this day, to Blue Bell, Mrs. Baird's and the slaughter house. Her beloved daughter, Emily, and son, Daniel, were the light of her life, and she loved Priscilla and Jacquelyn as her own. She was over the moon for grandchildren, Daniel, 8 and Amelia, 6, bragging on Daniel's gymnastic achievements and Amelia's story writing. Serving as pallbearers are Randy Atkinson, Rick Atkinson, Larry Smith, Bob Burton, Jim Welch, and Lamar Jackson. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Sherman at 401 N. Elm, Sherman, Texas 75090 or to the American Cancer Society.  Cedarlawn Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |