Joseph W. Neely Reynolds: Press

Kathy Massey Perry
1929-2005
Kathy Perry passed away Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005, after a lengthy illness.

Memorial service: 3 p.m. Thursday, September 15 at Springtown Methodist Church. Additional service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 17 at St. Michael's Episcopal in Blanco.

Memorials: A contribution to a church, school or charity of choice in her name would mean so much more than flowers.

A lifelong businesswoman and educator, Kathy taught at Everman High School and for several colleges.

She also enjoyed a successful career in insurance. She was active in the Methodist and Episcopal churches as an officer and in Kairo Prison Ministries.

Born in San Augustine in 1929, Kathy graduated from the University of Texas-Austin and received her master's degree from UT-Arlington.

She will be greatly missed by her family, many friends and a world of ex-students.

She was preceded in death by parents, Casset Hanks and Vera Miller Hanks; husband, William Perry; brother, Lester Hanks; and son, Steven R. Massey.

Survivors: Daughter, MaryKay Massey; son, Arthur Massey; son-in-law, Jim Vicars; daughter-in-law, Terri Massey; grandchildren, Kaitlyn Vicars, Julia Vicars, Steven Massey and Ben Massey; former husband, Bob Massey.
Published in the Star-Telegram on 9/11/2005.

MY TEACHER
I first met Kathy Massey Perry in 1964, I was a freshman at Everman High School and Ms. Massey (she will always be Ms. Massey to me) was my English and Speech teacher. Also she was the Drama teacher. Acting was my heart desire and in Ms. Massey I found a mentor, a teacher, a friend and counselor.

She would inspire, demand, discipline and encourage me for my four years at Everman High School and our friendship would continue always.

In 1968, Ms. Massey's English class she brought a record to class for all of us to analyze the song "Gentle on my Mind" by Glen Campbell written by John Harford. That song continued to be our song that described our friendship.

You see, as in the verse, " It's knowing that your door is always open and your path is free to walk" that was the way it was with her, Ms. Massey always was there to listen. I am forever thankful to her for her kindness, generosity and encouragement she always showed towards me. And I must say to Art and Mary Kay, thank you for sharing your Mother with me and the many other students who would come to Ms. Massey's home for counseling and friendship.

Ms. Massey will always be "Gentle on my Mind".

"It's knowing that your door is always open and your path is free to walk,
That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag rolled up and stashed behind your couch,
and it's knowing that I'm not shackled by forgotten words or bonds
and the ink stains that have dried upon some lines,
That keeps you in the backroads by the rivers of my memory
that keeps you ever Gentle on my Mind."
John Harford, 1968


God Bless Kathy Massey Perry and we will meet again in the Eternal Now.

Joseph W. Neely Reynolds
September 15, 2005