Mr. Thomas Edison Perry Jr.

Thomas E. "Jim" Perry, Jr., 86, of Singleton, passed away Friday, September 25th at his home. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:00am, Saturday, October 3rd at Nobles Funeral Chapel. Visitation with family and friends will take place 30 minutes prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Singleton Cemetery. Rev. Floyd Hoke will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.
Jim was born in Singleton, Texas on January 15, 1929 to Thomas E. Perry, Sr., and Josie Ann Yargo. He attended school in Navasota and played football for the Rattlers in High School. After graduation, he joined the U. S. Army and proudly served his country. After an honorable discharge from the Army, he married Barbara Hetmaniak and purchased a small ranch in Singleton where he operated a small dairy and raised cattle for beef. Together they raised a son, Thomas E. Perry, III. Jim loved to fish and hunt and felt at home the most amongst the wildlife on his property. Throughout his life, ranching remained his first love. He was a “jack of all trades” and quite good at any project he took on. He valued the resources of mother nature, whether it be for food, shelter or just admiration, he preferred to harvest what he needed from the land he loved rather than purchase it from the store. He also believed greatly in the value of an education. Although quite the storyteller, he was known to mean what he said and say what he meant. He kept a small circle of friends, all of whom knew he’d readily give the shirt off of his back if necessary. Jim was extremely loyal to family and close friends. He had a ready smile and a sharp wit. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, tinkering with farm equipment and doting on his two grandsons and later his great-grandchildren. He instilled in them at an early age his appreciation for nature and hard work. In 1980, he married Jo Ellen Andruss and they remained married until her death in 2000.
Jim is survived by his son, Thomas E. “Tom” Perry, III., and his wife, Tami, of Singleton; grandsons Edison and wife LeighAnn of Singleton and Jake Perry, also of Singleton; sisters and brothers-in-law Evelyn Schulz of Bryan, Cecile and Jim Murphy of Singleton and Maple and Doon Fuller of Singleton; brother and sister-in-law Lloyd and Sharon Perry of Singleton; grandchildren Kyleigh, Annabelle, Matthew and Harleigh Perry, all of Singleton.
Serving as pallbearers are Benny Perry of Porter, Gary Crawford of Navasota, Morse Nickles of Anderson, John Butaud of Singleton, Steve “Grizz” Olson of Singleton and Burnett Lieber, Jr., of Bryan. Honorary pallbearers include Justin Willis, Steve Schwartzbach and R. B. Perry, Jr.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Jo Ellen Perry; and brothers Roland and Hershel Perry.