BARBARA J. MARTIN PERRY

Barbara Jean Martin Perry, age 77, of St. Charles, formerly of West Des Moines, IA, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus, claiming the promise of everlasting peace, Thursday, May 23, 2024. She was born November 7, 1946, in Hollywood, CA, to proud and loving parents, Michael and Marilyn Martin.

Barb grew up in Boone, IA, and attended local schools. She graduated from Boone High School with the class of 1965. Before receiving her diploma, Barb was at the helm as yearbook editor and made her mark in and around the halls of her school.  Barb moved to Chicago where her uncle and cousins lived and where she worked locally for a time. Barb was blessed with a son, Michael, after her marriage in 1968. She returned to Boone, IA and this is where fate stepped in as she met Roger Perry while he was in town on a business trip. It didn’t take long for a friendship to bloom into something deeper. An abiding love brought them to the altar on October 28, 1974, in The Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. The family grew by one in 1975 when their daughter Becca made the family complete.  Barb worked as a bank manager in De Moines, IA for several years before she and Roger moved to Phoenix, AZ in 2001. There she worked at the Valley of the Sun United Way as director of fund development. She would call on businesses and large corporations to establish their fundraising campaigns for The United Way. Barb began her literary career later in life and published poetry, short stories and in recent years two children’s books including, The Perfect Puddle and Moving Day, both featuring raindrops named Willie and Arnold, published by Brown Books.

 Although Barb’s walk of faith led her to worship at various churches she found a spiritual home at Christ Community Church in St. Charles, after making their home there in 2017. Barb’s foundation was her unshakable faith as a child of God and her family. Everything was to His glory and the love and affection she showered on her family reflected the love she had for her Savior. Her grandchildren brought her joy each and every day and became the highlight of her life. 

Barb leaves her loving husband of 50 years, Roger Perry; two children: Mike (Patti) Adams and Becca (Sarah) Conley; 5 grandchildren: Shawn Gibford, Jonathan Gibford, Grace Volkmar,  Addie Volkmar and Chaz Finley; two great-grandchildren (with one more on the way): Charlotte Gibford and Elliana Gibford; one sister, Ginny (Joe) Kuzniar; one brother-in-law, Wayne Perry;  a cousin Charlotte Forsyth; nieces and nephews: C.J. (Ben) Conley, Marty (Heidi) Ottilie, Margaret (Kris) Lindskog, and Byron (Katie) Perry;  and a community of friends that will miss her dearly.

She now is reunited with her parents, Michael and Marilyn Martin.

A visitation will be held from 10:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. on Sunday, May 26, 2024 with a funeral service to follow immediately at 11:00a.m. at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. Interment will immediately follow the service at Blackberry Twp. Cemetery in Elburn, IL.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Barb’s name. Checks may be made to the “Barbara Jean Perry Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.