Richard Alfred Franklin (Rick) Perry was born Jan. 4, 1951, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and passed away in his sleep at 9:40 p.m. (PDT) on July 25, 2020, in Montesano, Washington, USA, with his wife and children by his side. He was 69.

He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, daughter Richelle (George) Coburn of Sandy, Utah, son Colin (Shawna) Perry of Nampa, Idaho, and sister Dianne Busch of Kenmore, New York, as well as four grandchildren and five nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brother David, mother Dorothy and father Kenneth.

Rick grew up in Buffalo, New York, and graduated from Kenmore East High School in 1969. He then served his country in the United States Navy, being stationed in Chicago, San Diego and Honolulu during the Vietnam War. Later he attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and became an orthopedic physician’s assistant, a profession he would practice until his retirement. He began at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1977, where he would eventually meet payroll manager Jacqueline Pryor. The two were married Nov. 21, 1981, in the chapel at the hospital where they met.

In 1993, Rick moved his family to Aberdeen, Washington, to take a position at Harbor Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic under the direction of Dr. Price Chenault, finally settling in Montesano. Here he formed many friendships and bonds with co-workers and patients alike. He was well-respected in his practice and would retire from here at the end of 2015. He continued assisting in orthopedic surgeries at Grays Harbor Community Hospital through the end of 2016.

Rick was active in the Boy Scouts of America and was an integral part of many council activities and campouts. He had a great love of Dutch oven cooking and would often judge Dutch oven cooking competitions among the scouts. He was a certified first aid instructor and was the head of many leader trainings for the Pacific Harbors Council. He would also spend many years at the district level, serving as district commissioner. Rick was a participant and trainer for Woodbadge and the College of Commissioner Science as well as a Brotherhood member of Order of the Arrow. He was also a recipient of scouting’s Silver Beaver Award.

When at home, Rick could often be found “tinkering in his workshop” where he enjoyed woodworking, cane making and restoring camp stoves. He loved reading and was a fan of author Louis L’Amour. He enjoyed making others laugh and always had a joke to tell. He enjoyed listening to oldies music and often sang songs no one recognized. Rick was also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After years of physical issues, Rick was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy, a rare degenerative neurological disease, on Oct. 22, 2019.

The family would like to thank all of the wonderful Grays Harbor Fire District No. 2 firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics, as well as the Brady volunteers, for their unparalleled help and service over the years and for the friendships that were formed, as well as the nurses and staff of Harbors Home Health and Hospice, Comfort Keepers, all attending doctors and medical personnel involved in his care, and the VA.

Final arrangements were provided by Harrison Family Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Multiple System Atrophy research by visiting https://www.multiplesystematrophy.org/msa-donation/.