We are saddened by the passing of our beloved husband, father and father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and brother-in-law, friend, and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 30, 2015 of cancer. We were inspired by his enthusiasm, positive attitude, leadership, humility, and openness. He will be remembered as a man who went the extra mile to build the faith of others and whose faith never waivered. He left a legacy of selfless service throughout the world. He taught with a powerful voice the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, and our fondest memories will be his stories, his smile, and his love for everyone he met.
His accomplishments, the positions he held, and the honors he received during his uncommon life have been widely reported in recent days, and so we will not repeat them here. He was born in Logan, Utah on August 5, 1922 to Leslie Thomas Perry and Elsie Nora Sonne—the fourth child and eldest son in a family of six children. For 80 years he held the priesthood of God, first as a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood for two years, and, finally, as an apostle for forty-one years. He worked tirelessly up until only a few days before his passing, and he was an inspirational example of all that can be accomplished by a humble and faithful individual who places his complete trust in the Lord.
Elder Perry is survived by his wife, Barbara, two children, Lee (Carolyn), and Linda Gay (Michael G. Nelson), fourteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and a brother, Ted S. Perry. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Virginia Lee, his eldest daughter, Barbara Haws (Terry), eldest granddaughter, Esther Wood (Aaron), three sisters, and a brother.
We are so grateful for the physicians and nurses who cared for him over the past six weeks, especially Dr. James Pearl, Dr. Scott Samuelson, and Dr. Larry Staker. We are also grateful to LDS Church Security, especially Ron Pope, for the help, attention, and lifting they provided. While brief, the hospice care received from Rocky Mountain Hospice was both kind and professional. Our gratitude reaches out to all the caregivers who served Elder Perry.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Friday, June 5, 2015, at the Salt Lake Tabernacle, and there will be no public viewing. The family suggests that contributions be made to the General Missionary Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or a charity of their choice in lieu of flowers.
