Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Ira Richard Perry, age 61 of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, December 6, 2022.

Ira was born November 4, 1961 in Purcell, OK, the baby of 5 children born to Jessie Blalock Perry and Lenora Lenita (Stevenson) Perry. He was raised in Wayne and attended school there, graduating with the Bulldog Class of 1981. Ira then attended Murray State College in Tishomingo. His first job was at a Texaco station in Purcell, and he also worked as a delivery driver for a food service company. He then found a job with the State of Oklahoma, at the Department of Forestry, and Ira loved his job. He worked for nearly 20 years before medically retiring in 2007.

Ira loved living in Wayne, was a huge supporter of Wayne Schools and especially the AG and FFA. He helped many students throughout the years cover cost with their show animals. In 2010, the Wayne Fire Department recognized him as Captain Ira Perry for 22 years of service and support provided to the community. He was a country boy at heart, a kind and generous soul, who enjoyed fishing and hunting, and an occasional game of poker. He will be dearly missed!

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Jessie and Lenora Perry; Sister Lenita Sims and Pearl Ann Rowell; sister-in-law Lea Ann Perry, and nephews Shawn Perry and Perry Michael Sims.

Ira is survived by: his brother, Wilfred “Hank” Perry of Lexington; sister Evelyn Marie Fore of Lawton; several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.

Graveside Funeral Services are scheduled for 11:00 A.M. Monday, December 12, 2022, at Hopping Cemetery in Wayne. www.wilsonlittle.com.