| Thomas (Tom) Perry, 73, passed peacefully away on October 25 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He is beloved to his wife of 47 years (Kathy); three remarkable children: daughter Maria (Butch) Allen, son Chris (Gena), son Michael (Brittney); and two doting granddaughters, Perry & Maisie Allen. Also surviving are his sisters Elizabeth (Rob) Robinson, Janet (Bill) Weidmann, Julia (John) DeWaal, and Eileen (Jim) Haley; uncle Fr. Bob Perry, OP.; 26 nieces & nephews; and more extended family and friends than can be listed. Tom lived a life of service - first and always to the church, where he volunteered in nearly every layperson role, from altar boy to Director of the Confirmation program at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. He enlisted in the US Coast Guard, and later became an Officer specializing in hazardous materials. He worked to help develop the program for the cleanup at Oak Ridge, TN. As a father, he was an enthusiastic supporter of his children’s endeavors cheering on cross country and track meets, becoming a Scoutmaster in his sons’ troop, an official for the kids’ swim meets, Assistant Coach in baseball, and the loudest audience member at his daughter’s theater productions. As a loving husband he achieved the nearly impossible feat of never forgetting his anniversary or Valentine’s Day as they were one and the same. Tom was an adventurer and enjoyed nontraditional ways of travel. He hitchhiked from Ohio to Alaska to work on the Alaska Railroad. He sailed with his parents to the Bahamas, inspiring him to build his own 20-foot sailboat, in which he proudly sailed family and friends around Ft. Loudon Lake. An avid hiker, Tom hiked all 900 miles of the Smoky Mountains National Park trail system, and had decades of annual hiking adventures along the Appalachian Trail with his friends. He shared his love of adventure with his family on camping trips across Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the American west. He loved scuba diving and saw undersea wonders from Florida to Palau. After retiring from his work in environmental compliance at K-25 Oak Ridge, Tom rode his bicycle solo from Oregon to Virginia, completed two Ironman triathlons, and dozens of other multisport adventure races from New Zealand to Alaska. On one of his final adventures, he took his 5-year-old granddaughter on an overnight bike-packing trip down the Virginia Creeper. Tom’s current plans include flexing his new wings, and catching up with his parents Thomas E. and Mary Catherine Perry and sister Katy (the original Katy Perry, not the singer) in heaven. Visitation will be at 10 am in the narthex, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 am, on Monday, October 30 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church (633 St. John Court, Farragut, TN). Tom’s family wishes to thank all of the friends, family, and neighbors who graciously supported them, along with the staff of Alzheimer’s Tennessee, NHC Place Cavette Hill, and CADES. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to ‘Alzheimer's Tennessee’ or ‘Friends of the Smokies.’ |
Thomas Perry Died: October 25, 2023