Obituary for George “Melvin” "Mel" Perry
George “Melvin” Perry (Mel)
December 24, 1920 - November 25, 2022
Born in Port Maitland on December 24, 1920, the son of George and Ruth (Ellis) Perry. At age two years he was taken to Dorchester, Massacheutts where his father was employed as a carpenter. While living there, as a result of an epidemic of diphtheria, his mother, Ruth, and brother, William, died on the night of October 2, 1925. One younger brother, Weldon, had previously died. From Dorchester he went to live in Medford, Massacheutts for the next two years with his father's sister, Bertha Brewer, and her husband, William. It was while living here that he started school at the Craddock School Medford. Two years after the death of his mother and brother, his father remarried, and the family moved across the street from the Brewer’s. They continued to live there until 1929 when again they moved back to Dorchester to be near his father's work. In 1931 at age 10 years, he returned to Port Maitland with his father to live in the old Charles and Lois Perry estate.
During the last two years of school he spent the summer holidays working at the carpenter trade with his father, then continued after finishing school in 1937. In 1940 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, spending the next five years serving in Canada, England, France, Belgium and Holland. While stationed in Canada (Centralia, Ontario), in 1942, he married Edith Hersey of Port Maitland. They lived in Exeter, Ontario until he was posted to overseas duty.
His military career ended in October 1945. He received the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939-1945.
On returning from World War II, he again was employed in the building trade until 1955. He then took employment with the Nova Scotia government as an Inspector with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, retiring from that service in 1983. By this time his two daughters, Elizabeth and Janet, were married and he continued to reside in Port Maitland, two houses from where he was born.
He was a member of the Port Maitland Wesleyan Church since 1946, having held various offices such as the local church board secretary, treasurer, trustee, and Sunday school teacher. He was also a member of Branch #143 Canadian legion, having served as vice-president, and secretary treasurer.
He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth “Liz” (Earl) Goudey, Port Maitland; Janet (Edward) Rose, Darlings Lake; sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Perry, St John’s NFLD; grandchildren, Dwayne (Rosa) Goudey; Laura (David) Zigler; Aram Mitchell; great grandchildren Braden, Dylan, and Tyler Goudey; EllaAnne and Rosie Zigler.
Besides his parents, Melvin was predeceased by his wife Edith (Hersey) Perry to whom he was married for 64 years; son, William; and three brothers Weldon, William and Tom, as well as his stepmother.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home and Crematorium, Yarmouth. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 10-11 AM in Sweeny’s Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral will start at 11 A.M. with Rev. Barry Vernon officiating. A private interment will take place in Port Maitland/Beaver River Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations in memory may be made to Port Maitland Wesleyan Church, the Gideon’s, or the Port Maitland/Beaver River Cemetery. Online condolences or a funeral livestream may be viewed at www.sweenysfuneralhome.net
The family requests that masks be worn during the visitation and funeral service. Thank you.
December 24, 1920 - November 25, 2022
Born in Port Maitland on December 24, 1920, the son of George and Ruth (Ellis) Perry. At age two years he was taken to Dorchester, Massacheutts where his father was employed as a carpenter. While living there, as a result of an epidemic of diphtheria, his mother, Ruth, and brother, William, died on the night of October 2, 1925. One younger brother, Weldon, had previously died. From Dorchester he went to live in Medford, Massacheutts for the next two years with his father's sister, Bertha Brewer, and her husband, William. It was while living here that he started school at the Craddock School Medford. Two years after the death of his mother and brother, his father remarried, and the family moved across the street from the Brewer’s. They continued to live there until 1929 when again they moved back to Dorchester to be near his father's work. In 1931 at age 10 years, he returned to Port Maitland with his father to live in the old Charles and Lois Perry estate.
During the last two years of school he spent the summer holidays working at the carpenter trade with his father, then continued after finishing school in 1937. In 1940 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, spending the next five years serving in Canada, England, France, Belgium and Holland. While stationed in Canada (Centralia, Ontario), in 1942, he married Edith Hersey of Port Maitland. They lived in Exeter, Ontario until he was posted to overseas duty.
His military career ended in October 1945. He received the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and War Medal 1939-1945.
On returning from World War II, he again was employed in the building trade until 1955. He then took employment with the Nova Scotia government as an Inspector with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, retiring from that service in 1983. By this time his two daughters, Elizabeth and Janet, were married and he continued to reside in Port Maitland, two houses from where he was born.
He was a member of the Port Maitland Wesleyan Church since 1946, having held various offices such as the local church board secretary, treasurer, trustee, and Sunday school teacher. He was also a member of Branch #143 Canadian legion, having served as vice-president, and secretary treasurer.
He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth “Liz” (Earl) Goudey, Port Maitland; Janet (Edward) Rose, Darlings Lake; sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Perry, St John’s NFLD; grandchildren, Dwayne (Rosa) Goudey; Laura (David) Zigler; Aram Mitchell; great grandchildren Braden, Dylan, and Tyler Goudey; EllaAnne and Rosie Zigler.
Besides his parents, Melvin was predeceased by his wife Edith (Hersey) Perry to whom he was married for 64 years; son, William; and three brothers Weldon, William and Tom, as well as his stepmother.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home and Crematorium, Yarmouth. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 10-11 AM in Sweeny’s Funeral Home Chapel. The funeral will start at 11 A.M. with Rev. Barry Vernon officiating. A private interment will take place in Port Maitland/Beaver River Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations in memory may be made to Port Maitland Wesleyan Church, the Gideon’s, or the Port Maitland/Beaver River Cemetery. Online condolences or a funeral livestream may be viewed at www.sweenysfuneralhome.net
The family requests that masks be worn during the visitation and funeral service. Thank you.