Services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Perry Ranch, 114 Coe Canyon Road off U.S. 70 at the Glencoe Loop, for Charles Carol “Charlie” Perry.
Perry went on to join a whole mess of family and friends in the eternal light of our Heavenly Father Friday, Dec. 28, 2019. For 81 years, he graced this world.
A viewing for family and friends will be held from 4-8 p.m. today at Terpening & Son Mortuary. Cards and flowers may also be sent to Terpening & Son.
A memorial lunch will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, where we will tell all the stories that won’t fit on this page. The ranch phone number is 575-378-4654. Please join us to help celebrate his life.
Charles Perry was born Dec. 24, 1938, in Roswell. He was the best husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend you could ask for. He married the love of his life and high-school sweetheart, Ann Westall, on March 28, 1959, and annoyed her for a good 60 years.
She was never really happy with the way he drove and probably with good reason.
There are some stories about him driving off the side of a mountain – at least a few times.
However, he took her to every antique store she ever wanted to go in and held her hand as often as he could.
He knew the Lord and had a servant’s heart. There’s another story about him, at the age of 70, single-handedly getting his grandson Kaleb – and a few more – unstuck from a muddy mess at Brantley Lake. He loved his tractor, and he loved his TV.
He also loved his morning coffee time with the rest of the old coffee drinkers wherever they may be.
Seeing how he never met a stranger, there is a good chance most of y’all encountered him at some point. Out of high school, Charlie worked with his brothers at Perry Brothers Drilling Co.
throughout the Four Corners area. He worked at Sierra Blanca Ski Range, helping construct the ski resort and causing a lot of ruckus on the slopes. He then ran a Morten’s distributing truck.
Afterwards, he got into the Dairy Queen business, owning five throughout New Mexico.
Eventually, he, along with his family, owned and operated the Dairy Queen in Artesia from 1976-2007, employing many and entertaining countless.
After closing the DQ, Charles and Ann opened up Georgianna’s Antiques in Artesia. In 2012, they sold the antique shop to spend time with family and travel.
However, those are just some things he did and do not fully testify to the man he was: strong, caring, selfless, enthusiastic, short-tempered, and downright funny. He was the man you called to get you out of a tough situation or to just brighten your day. He was the man you wanted to model yourself after.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Georgianna Perry, of Artesia; daughter Natalia Campanella and husband Tony of Tinnie; daughter Roxana Newton and husband Kevin of Artesia; and son Nathan Perry and fiancée Cori Kusch of Adkins, Texas. As the Good Book says, grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and Charles Perry wore that crown proudly, as his legacy is carried on by grandchildren Brandon Campanella and wife Thalia, Vanessa Campanella, Kaleb Newton, Erica Portio and husband Curtis, Bradley Perry, Jordyn Perry and Christian Kusch. Charlie was also blessed by great-grandchildren Tayden and Jaidaa Campanella, Zaelynn Portio, and Blake and Kole Newton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elzy and Mayme; brothers George, Lloyd, Elzy Jr., Jimmy, Leroy and Don; sisters Nina, Ruth and Gladys; inlaws Billy and George Westall; brother-in-law Glen Westall; and sister-in-law Shirley Westall.
Arrangements are under the direction of Terpening & Son Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed online at www.
artesiafunerals.com.
