Donald Lawrence Perry was born at home, the fifth of five living children, April 10, 1938. He weighed in at 10lbs and 14oz. Home was a small farm in an unorganized territory called “Wilton Plantation” which is now part of the nearby town of Wilton, Maine. He passed to his rest in Jesus on February 20, 2021 in Collegedale, Tennessee.
Don was educated in Wilton schools graduating from Wilton Academy in 1957, then went to work at the local G. H. Bass shoe factory. He was drafted into the army in 1961, discharged in 1963, and returned home to meet the love of his life, Priscilla. They were married October 24, 1964, the same day he was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church.
During the next thirty years they raised three daughters, Lisa, Leanne, and Lynne, and Don found his career niche in cooking. He worked in several different institutions culminating his cooking career as a chef for Marriott. During this period, Don and Priscilla became interested in Family Life Ministries, and in 1998 began facilitating “Binding the Wounds” support groups together, which they led for sixteen years.
Throughout Donald’s adult life he had the gift for attracting lonely, hurting souls, strangers usually, who would come to him to confide their pain and problems. He learned to facilitate support groups and realized the satisfaction of serving people and doing God’s work in this way. This became his mission and God’s calling on his life.
He is survived by his wife, Priscilla of Collegedale, TN, daughters Lisa Robertson-Perry of Cincinnati, OH, Leanne Drexler (Daniel) of Harrison, TN, and Lynne Neubauer (Eric) of La Selva Beach, CA. In addition, he leaves six beloved grandchildren: Piper Robertson-Perry, Christian Drexler, Mathias Drexler, Connor Ziegele (Laura), Emma Neubauer, and William Neubauer. Donald also leaves two older siblings, fondly called “The 90s Club,”: Irene Weld of Dixfield, ME, and Robert Perry of Farmington, ME. Another sister, Doris Cushman and brother, Orman Perry have passed to their rest.
A private memorial service will be held for the family due to Covid restrictions.