Born in the "Garden of Eden," which on April 5, 1924 was around Krotz Springs, LA, Harold Treston Perry began an 81-year long life marked by splendid love affairs.

• With his family, his brothers Nelson Perry and Phillip Perry, who precede him in death, and his surviving sisters and brother Nita Perry Hagan and Vera (Chookie) Perry Stubbs, and Arthur Glenn Perry.

• With learning and knowledge of the world, which spanned his 17+ years of education and culminating with a degree (the first in his family) that granted him the title, Doctor of Education.

• With fishing, which he started as soon as he could swim and which culminated in what might be a record-breaking catch of a 10-lb bass at Lake Texoma this past year.

• With the country, which he served in the Navy in WWII, and which in later years he guided from a seat on the Denton City Council and the Denton Housing Authority and as a member of Kiwanis.

• With his wife, Lessie Harnisch Perry, of 57 years, who survives him.

• With his 3 children and their spouses who survive him: Catherine Lynn Perry and Daniel Williams of Seattle WA, Richard Treston Perry and Diane Lee Risser Perry of Cheyenne WY, and Peggy Carol Perry and James Francis Dennehy of Denton TX.

• With his 3 grandsons who survive him, David Treston Perry and Adam Christopher Perry of Laramie WY and Ryan Lee Perry of Cheyenne WY.

• With teaching, where he served the children of the East Baton Rouge Parish school district as teacher and supervisor and as a professor at North Texas State University.

• With healing, where he initiated Denton as its first practicing psychologist, and where he worked with Ann's Havens Hospice, being named Psychologist of the Year by the Texas Hospice Association.

• With the arts, where he contributed as a founding member of the Greater Denton Arts Council, receiving the Community Arts Recognition Award (CARA) in 1990; helping to establish the Denton Orchestra, and being instrumental in establishing the greenbelt between Lake Ray Roberts and Lewisville Lake.

• With his faith, where he spent innumerable hours in pews, classrooms, and sometimes at the pulpit, and where his recent participation at the First United Methodist Church included participation in the Searchers Sunday school class and the 3M (Men's Monday Morning) Bible Study.

His most recent honor came January 3, 2006, the night before he died, from the American Legion, who voted him in as a full member of American Legion Post 71.

Harold's was a full-spirited life, which ended January 4, 2006 at 1:38a, with his family surrounding him, easing his passing with love.

He worked almost until the day he died, counseling people, bringing his wisdom and caring hand to the healing of people's lives, leaving the world a little better, as his mother taught him to do.

The service will be at First United Methodist Church on Saturday January 7, 2006 at 1:00pm, with fellowship, celebration, and storytelling to follow. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, you may send contributions to the Kiwanis children's clinic, First United Methodist Church, or the Denton Public Library.

Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.