James "Jim" Edwin Perry

James Edwin (Jim) Perry was born December 4, 1933, in Clarksville, Texas, to Mona and Dan Perry and passed away peacefully January 7, 2020 in Plano. Jim graduated from Annona High School in 1950 at the age of 16, where he excelled in basketball, baseball and tennis. After high school, he attended Paris Junior College then East Texas State Teachers College (now Texas A&M University-Commerce), where he received a bachelor's and master's degrees while also lettering in tennis.

After graduation, he taught school in Dallas for one year, then served in the Army for two years. In 1969, he entered the insurance business with Home Life Insurance Company of New York. He received numerous industry awards and in 1982 was inducted into the Home Life Hall of Fame. He retired from his parent company in 1999 but remained active in the business.

Athletics were always a big part of Jim's life, and after returning to Dallas from serving in the Army, he took up two new sporting endeavors – semi-pro basketball and fastpitch softball. His teams won numerous state titles, participated in six World Series of Fastpitch Softball Tournaments and Jim was named an All-American in one of those tournaments.

Jim had a love for the outdoors since he was a young boy. He grew up hunting quail and fishing for crappie with his dad in northeast Texas. He wore out many cane poles and knew the best fishing coves in all the local lakes. In the late 1970's, he and friends leased land near Aspermont, Texas, and this secured his piece of quail heaven. Shooting quail was great, but the pure joy of the sport was watching and working with his dogs. He developed relationships through fishing and hunting that few people ever get to have and enjoyed having friends and family over for a fish fry or quail dinner.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Martin Perry; daughters, Lisa Perry Morse and Anne Perry Osborn (Brandon); grandchildren, Jackson Perry Morse, Caitlin Elizabeth Morse, Madison Ann Morse, Cole Scott Osborn, Jake Perry Osborn and Luke James Osborn; brother-in-law, Shan Martin (Nancy) and family; and cousin, Bob Sargent and family.

A memorial service celebrating Jim's life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Custer Road United Methodist Church, 6601 Custer Road, Plano, Texas 75023.

If it is your wish, the family suggests donations may be made to City House, 830 Central Parkway #350, Plano, Texas 75074, www.cityhouse.org.