PERRY, Clifford Dyson
February 23, 1919 – July 8, 2021 The four children of Clifford Dyson Perry, Brenda (Lorne) Harris, Lyn (Ted Kozub), Trevor (Sandy), and Nora wish to announce his passing on July 8, 2021. Mom, Madeline, his wife of 52 years, predeceased him in 1999. For the past ten years, Dad has lived at Summerland Seniors Village where so many of the staff treated him as he treated them, with love, care and respect. Dad was born on the family orchard to Harold and Nina Perry of East Kelowna, he was the third eldest of their eleven children. He was predeceased by two brothers, Richard and Bernard and two sisters Monica Tallman and Nora Gunning. His surviving siblings are Len (Sheila), Arthur, Dorothy Baker, Margery Stephens, June Toms and Tony (Jolene). Dad spent five years in the Canadian Army, training in England, then landing at Juno Beach, Normandy in June 1944. He and his regiment, the 3rd Scottish, lived in slit trenches across Europe,
through Holland and at WWII’s end, in Germany. When Dad returned from the war he met our Mother at a box social at the East Kelowna Hall; they married August 1, 1947. The East Kelowna Hall and Church were an integral part of Perry life, the “boys” helped build the hall and church where the family attended regularly. After the war, Dad received a VLA loan and purchased a farm at Stoddard Creek in northern BC near Fort St John. He broke the land and built a home for our family. Mom taught school at the two-room schoolhouse in Montney. In 1962 Dad moved our family to Kelowna where he sold real estate and ended up owning his own real estate agency. Farm life called him again in 1969 and Dad moved our family to a farm in Kersley, south of Quesnel. Dad retired from farming at age fifty-five, Mom retired from teaching and together they spent many years camping with friends, riding together on his motorcycle until age 67, playing golf, volunteering at the Legion and the Oliver Seniors Centre.
Dad had a life well lived. The world changed dramatically during his 102 years. He experienced riding his horse from the orchard to downtown Kelowna tying it up at the hitching post in front of the Royal Anne Hotel, WWll and the computer age. He was grateful for all life offered him and was a positive inspiration and mentor to all that knew him. His love of the outdoors and inquisitive nature provided the family with many experiences, teaching us all to have confidence in ourselves. He will be truly missed. A heartfelt thanks to the amazing staff, nurses and care aids at Summerland Seniors Village who took such great care of Dad, making his final journey peaceful and comfortable. Thanks also for sharing your stories and love for him with us during his last days. A private family service will be held in Kelowna.