For those of you new to the town, Francis & Melba Perry lived in the house across from The Steeple Market (Old St. Luke's Church). Jimmy was my Burlington Free Press Delivery boy when Maryann & I lived at 80 Fletcher Road many years ago.
JAMES MYRON PERRY
COLCHESTER — The Rev. James Myron Perry, 67, of Colchester, passed away peacefully on Jan. 29, 2014.
He was born in Fairfax on Oct. 16, 1946, the son of the late Francis and Melba (Chandler) Perry. Jim was a 1964 graduate of the BFA Fairfax High School. In 1968, he graduated from Swarthmore College and from Andover Newton Theological School in 1971 with a Bachelor of Divinity. Jim was ordained a deacon in the Troy Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1969 and ordained an elder in 1972. Jim’s first clergy appointment was serving the churches in Danville, West Danville, Walden, and South Walden, Vt.
Between 1974 and 1989, Jim served churches in St. Johnsbury, Vt., Whitehall, N.Y., Queensbury and Sanford’s Ridge, N.Y., and Burlington.
In 1989, he was appointed by the bishop the position of Council Director for Troy Conference, where he served until 1997. Jim and his wife, Kareen, made the move to Minnesota where he became the Steward of Appointed Leadership in the Minnesota Conference. He served the conference in that capacity until 2002, when he became Director of Ministries, a position he held until he retired Dec. 31, 2010. Jim devoted much time to the United Methodist Church and served in such capacities as the conference secretary, and secretary for the Northeastern Jurisdiction. Jim was most proud of his work as Chairperson of the Commission on General Conference, a position he served from 2000 through 2004.
Jim was a lifelong servant of Christ and enjoyed life to the fullest.
He loved woodworking, golf, the Boston Red Sox, and spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Kareen (Karr); his sons, Matthew and his wife, Amy, of Burlington, and William of Minneapolis; his granddaughters, Emma, Grace, and Nora; his sister, Barbara Norton of Burlington; and his sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Corbin & Palmer Funeral Home, 71 S. Union St., Burlington. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, at 1 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to UMCOR, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087; Vermont Food Bank, 33 Parker Rd., Barre, VT 05641; or Faith United Methodist Church Forward in Faith, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington, VT 05403.
