Our Past Is Present March 5, 2018

March 5, 2018

           

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story comes from an article written by Sherry Blair, “Daily Union” newspaper features editor, which was published in 1984. The title of the article was “Perry Cheers Friends With Music”.

            The author wrote that Fred Perry was born on a farm in Warsaw, Missouri in 1905.  As an adult, he worked in a bank for 12 years and in the automobile business for the rest of the 32 years he lived in Kansas City, Missouri before moving to Junction.  He purchased the local Oldsmobile/Cadillac dealership, which he operated from 1950 until 1982. 

            Fred stated that “Junction City’s been very good to me.  It’s been wonderful, in fact.” He was especially fond of his neighbors at the Valley View Professional Care Center.  His wife, Lois, lived there from September 1973 until her death from multiple sclerosis in 1976.  She loved to hear him play the organ, so he moved it to the care center and came five days a week to play for her and the other residents. 

            Fred played the organ for Valley View residents at least twice a month after his wife’s death. He stated that “Music is my entire life.  I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have it.  It’s the best thing in the world to calm down.  You can’t think bad thoughts when you’re playing beautiful music.”

            In the summer of 1983, Fred Perry became a resident at Valley View and his ties to the friends who cared for his wife grew even stronger. 

            “Music is the agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul.” A quote from J.S. Bach.  And…. that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.