Betty (Kendrick) Perry

Funeral service for Betty Kendrick Perry, 83, of Nacogdoches will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Nacogdoches with Dr. Noel Dear officiating.  Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held from 5-8pm on Friday, January 27, 2023 at Laird Funeral Home.

Mrs. Perry passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 in Nacogdoches.  She was born on June 19, 1939.

Betty Joyce Kendrick Perry was exactly what a wife, mother and grandmother is suppose to be.  She supported her family, the business that she and Mike built together and her friends, without boundaries.  She had no regrets, made no excuses and spent her life ensuring that her family was taken care of.  She loved Mike with her entire being and losing him in 2019 broke her heart.  However, in true Betty Perry style, she picked her head up and went on doing what she did best….supporting those she loved.

Betty Kendrick was the daughter of W.U. and Ruth Pleasant Kendrick.  She was born and raised in Nacogdoches and literally stuck to her roots.  Her entire life was spent here and she never desired to go anywhere else.  After graduating from Nacogdoches High School, she married her high school sweetheart, Mike Perry, and they began their journey that lasted for the next 62 years. They raised their children, made wonderful memories, built a successful dealership and loved on their grandchildren and great grandchildren, which were their best lifetime rewards.  They also built their dream home on Lake Nacogdoches.  Betty never needed much and put forth great effort in everything she did.  She was a long time, dedicated member of Fredonia Hill Baptist Church and also attended First Baptist Church.  Betty loved her Christ and Savior and took special care in teaching and sharing her faith with her children and grandchildren.  As a young graduate, she went to work for her daddy at Kendrick Chrysler-Plymouth on North Street.  In 1980, that dealership, along with their newly acquired dodge dealership, became Mike Perry Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge and moved to the current location on Hwy 59 South, thus beginning the legacy of Perry Motors.  Betty never walked away from being the bookkeeper.  She faithfully and successfully did that for over 70 years.  In fact, up until her health suddenly began to decline from an unexpected diagnosis in November, Betty remained the backbone of the dealerships.  Her dedication was something to be in awe of and she will always be remembered as the matriarch of her wonderfully blessed family.  Her grandchildren will remember their “Bee” for all the games, cheer, dance performances and other activities that she so lovingly watched and the sincere and complete love she showed them every day.  The one thing Betty was looking forward to was watching her Kansas City Chiefs, along with her favorite, Patrick Mahomes winning the Super Bowl ring this year.  But the truth of the matter is that she will have better seats than any of us as the team is covered in tiny squares of confetti….and she will be thrilled.    

Betty is survived by her children, Rex Perry & wife, Rhonda, Jerri Perry, Ray Perry & wife, Cindy and Hunter Perry & wife, Rachel, all of Nacogdoches; grandchildren, Kelsey Terry & husband, Cody of Lufkin, Ran Perry & wife, Tommie of Nacogdoches, Reid Perry & wife, Hannah of San Antonio, Riley Perry & fiancé Gabby Rivera of Austin, Chloe Perry of Austin, Hannah Bjerch-Andresen & husband, Mikkel of McGregor, Olivia Perry & fiancé Marco of Santa Ana, California, Rex Michael Perry III of Nacogdoches, Sophie Perry of Nacogdoches, Ella Perry of Nacogdoches and Slade Perry of Nacogdoches; great grandchildren, Ran Perry, Jr., Cameryn Rae Perry,  Ava Laine Terry, Axel Cato Bjerch-Andresen and Anders Perry Bjerch-Andresen; sister, Linda Greer and sister-in-law, Jane Ann Kendrick along with numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and an abundance of very special friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Mike Perry; parents, W.U. and Ruth Kendrick; brothers and sister-in-law, Bill Kendrick and Paul Kendrick & wife, Patricia.

Serving as pallbearers will be Ran Perry, Reid Perry, Riley Perry, Michael Perry, Slade Perry, Cody Terry and Mikkel Bjerch-Andresen.

The Perry family would also like to thank Dr. Philip Labarbera, Dr. Michael Randle and the superb staff at Nacogdoches Medical Center for the loving care shown to Betty in the past months.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Nacogdoches Area Cancer Coalition at 4920 NE Stallings Drive, Nacogdoches, Texas 75965.

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