Perry A. Peterson, MD passed away quietly on July 22, 2015 at the age 81. Perry was born the youngest of 5 children on April 1, 1934, in Centerfield, Utah, to Ross August Peterson and Ethel Gertrude Christensen. At 9 years of age, Perry lost his beloved mother Ethel. Johanna Marie and her children soon joined their family marrying Perry's father on June 24, 1942, in the Manti Temple. Perry graduated with honors from Gunnison High School where he was a very popular editor of the school newspaper. Following high school, he served honorably on active duty in the Army of the United States as a High Speed Radio Operator during the Korean War. After receiving the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal, Perry returned home and began preparations to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Perry was called to the Danish mission, where he served faithfully for a period of 2 Ω years from July 1956 to January 1959. After a quick tour of Europe, Perry returned home and moved to Salt Lake City where he attended the University of Utah in the pre-med program. When Perry met LaVon Wright in April of 1962, he said, I finally found \"Miss Wright,"and the two of them were married just 4 months later on the 15th of August, 1962 in the Manti Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Perry had been accepted into the McGill school of Medicine in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and they left immediately after their wedding to spend 4 years there in medical school. While there, their oldest daughter, Teri, was born. Then came Holly, Paula, Scott and Christian all born in Salt Lake City during and after residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology with an emphasis on fertility at the LDS Hospital. Perry helped bring thousands of babies into the world delivering an average of 30 babies a month during the busy years of his medical practice in Salt Lake City, Guam and Chicago. Perry loved to travel. Not only did he treasure his time on Guam, he and LaVon took numerous trips to various countries including Japan, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Holland, Tahiti and Mexico. Perry loved photography and documented all of his trips especially those with family. He loved to do leatherwork, yard and garden work, shoot guns, and ride motorcycles with his family. Perry was a faithful member of his LDS ward, and particularly enjoyed his service as a home teacher and as the ward newsletter coordinator. He was an exceptional writer and speaker. During the years that he and LaVon spent on the island of Guam, he wrote a regular newsletter which he fondly called the "Guam Gazette". Later as a volunteer at the same hospital in which he had worked and served for so many years, he also became editor of the monthly publication for the LDS Hospital Volunteers. Perry had a quick wit. He loved jokes and liked to have fun. He had a beautiful smile, and will be greatly missed. We are grateful that he is finally free from the cares of this world and know he is enjoying a glorious reunion with beloved family and his devoted wife LaVon. He is survived by his 5 children; Teri, Holly, Paula (Tim), Scott, and Christian (Michelle), 11 grandchildren and sisters; Lucille (Bill), Arva, Barbara, Frankie and Porcia. A viewing will be held on Monday July 27, 2015 from 6-8pm at Larkin Mortuary on 260 E South Temple. The funeral service will be 10:30am Tuesday with viewing 1 hour prior at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 E 10600 S in Sandy. Condolences may be made at www.LarkinMortuary.com
