Perry Helton

Perry Helton, Jr. was born July 25, 1941, in Granite City, Illinois. He passed away September 13^th, 2023, at home in Simla, Colorado. Perry, his parents, Perry and Addie Lee (Singer), and his siblings moved to Allison, Texas in 1944. He spoke of memories of dragging a toe sack full of cotton at a very young age. They also raised corn, hogs, peanuts and watermelon. He learned to ride a horse bareback at the age of 5, and especially enjoyed riding up the long driveway to meet the bus and give his brother Roy a ride home. In 1948 the family moved to Kutch, Colorado where he would live for the next 65 years. He attended the one room country school, Central, located three miles north of the farm, through the 8^th grade. Here, Perry formed some lifelong friends that he kept in close contact almost weekly until the end. He graduated from Simla High School in 1959. Perry was a top scholar, but sports were his passion. Baseball, in particular, was his favorite. He married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Mckim, on November 7^th, 1959. Three wonderful children were born to make them a family. They all lived and thrived on the family farm. Perry and Sharon drove a school bus for Simla for 30 years. Although farming and ranching are a full-time job, he always found time to mix in some baseball, softball, bowling, pool, horseshoes, ping pong or golf.  Playing sports at home with the family, or as a member of a team, Perry enjoyed it all. Teaching, learning, and practicing to be the best that you can be, was very important to him, in everything he did. Family life suited him well. He cherished his wife, kids and his life as a farmer. When cancer invaded his body in 2011, the fight was on, and he never gave up. Perry and Sharon moved to Simla in 2013. Perry is survived by his wife Sharon; children: Connie (Leonard), Barry (Lisa), and son in law Jeff; Grandchildren: Todd, Ryan (Jessica), Lindsay, Nicole (Cole), Bret Perry, Eric, Chad, and Brad; Great-Grandchildren: Alex, Emily, Laney, Easton, Aubrey, and Cooper Perry; Sisters: Billie Ann Tucker and Beverly Vargo; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and dear friends. Perry was preceded in death by his parents , brother Roy, three sisters: Imogene, Parilee and Loretta, and his daughter Lori Jo.

I Love you, and I’ll see you on the other side of the moon

-Sharon