Wilma Perry

(From Brenner Mortuary)

Wilma Perry, 106, died on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Elkhorn Jones Care in Las Vegas. She was born to James William and Cora Magnolia Pettay Powers on April 28, 1919, in Tipton Ford, Missouri, and would never know her father, who died six months earlier from the Spanish influenza. When her mother succumbed to TB seven years later, siblings Hervey, Cecil, Roy, Nell and Chet lovingly raised her.

She graduated from Augusta, Kansas High School in 1936, El Dorado Junior College in 1938, Pittsburg State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University) with a Bachelor of Science in 1943, and completed graduate work at Kansas University and Kansas State College. 

She met the dashing Earl Austin Perry at a board meeting for YMCA/YWCA officers at Pittsburg State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas. They married on New Year’s morning in 1943 at Pittsburg Methodist Church. For the next 76 years, the couple played vital roles in their communities across eastern Kansas, Mexico City, and Missouri. Wilma taught and Rev. Earl ministered through the Kansas Methodist Church in Arcadia, Gypsum. Altamont, Sedan, Bonner Springs, Kansas City, Topeka, Neodesha and Warrenton, Missouri.

Wilma taught elementary and high school throughout Kansas and Missouri at Butler County schools near Rose Hill and Cassoday, Gypsum Kansas High School, Warrenton High School, Welborn Elementary School, Morse Elementary School, Bonner Springs Elementary School, and gifted student programs in Topeka. 

In 1957, she served for three years with her husband as a missionary in Mexico City at the Union Theological Seminary. She was co-director for ten years of work camps in rural Mexico with the Kansas Methodist Conference. She was a member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the United Methodist Women, Sunflower Emmaus Walk, and served several years on the Activities Committee of the United Methodist Homes in Topeka. She taught Sunday School in the churches which she attended and served. She led home Bible studies through the years. She served as District Officer of Youth Work, Independence District, and a President of the Bonner Springs United Methodist Women. She conducted children’s services in churches where they served. She was very active in the United Methodist Church and co-authored with her husband the book, Puppets Go To Church. She wrote lyrics for a couple of songs written by daughter-in-law, Jean Perry, for the book, Sing ’N Do. 

Wilma was an active thespian throughout her life, singing the role of Violet at age 7 and Fannie Crosby in her 90’s. Throughout her life, she and Earl appeared on local church and theater stages, including Joplin’s Stained Glass Theater until the tornado of 2011 destroyed it. She was a capable and curious traveler, exploring cultures and countries in several continents. She was a passionate Christian, in service to others. 

Wilma and Earl had four children: David (1944), Anne (1946-1950), Jean (1952), and Jon (1956-1984). They became “Tia” and “Tio” when Erindira Perez Pasco Riggs came to live with them for her Sophomore year of high school (1967-68). 

Upon retirement, they moved to Joplin, Missouri, close to where the couple had each grown up. They volunteered for another three decades at Joplin’s Freeman Hospital where Wilma ushered in Nursery programs for holding and rocking infants. She and Earl continued their YMCA visits through the years, exercising into their 90’s. 

Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Austin Perry, daughter Coranell Anne Perry, son Jonathan Earl Perry, Grandson Thomas Frank Jones V, son-in-law’s Thomas Frank Jones IV and Alan Dale Bernhard. All of these and her childhood family members and friends greeted her with joyous celebration!

She is survived by son, David Perry, his wife Jean Perry and daughter, Wilma Jean Perry Jones; grandchildren Michael Austin Perry and his wife, Rebecca Elizabeth Perry, Carin Jenai Leffler and her husband, Kevin Frederick Leffler, DawnMarie Bernhard and partner Eric Larsen and great grandchildren, William Jon Leffler, Charlie Thomas Leffler, Alexis Elizabeth Perry, Catherine Anne Perry, Theodore Austin Perry, and Ruby Kyra Larsen; and by nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and caregivers.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Friday August 8th, 2025, at the Brenner Mortuary. Burial will follow at the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Brenner Mortuary 114 E. 4th Street. Pittsburg, KS 66762.