Obituaries
\n\nThe Rev. Donald Eugene Perry Jr. of Marshall, Ind., known to his community as "Brother Don," passed away at home on May 7, 2023, surrounded by his family. Services will be provided at Marshall Federated Church by the staff of Barnes and Rice Funeral Home, with visitation from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, and the funeral at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 11, pastors Brian Holt and John Cornell presiding. A graveside ceremony officiated by Olivia Kessinger will immediately follow the funeral at Poplar Grove Cemetery.\n\nBrother Don was born at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to the late Donald Sr. and Mary Coons Perry on April 21, 1950. He is survived by his wife of 51 years Patty Turner Perry; three daughters: Charity (Jasen) DeHority, Anna (Andy) Tome and Bethany (Andy) Bruner; eight grandchildren: Devon (Kayla), Natalie, and Audrey Tome, Josiah, Mary, and Nathan Solomon, and Benjamin and Samuel Bruner; and four sisters: Mary Walton, Janet Henry, Cindy Simpson and Toni Sanders. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Bill Perry and Connie Selig.\n\nBrother Don served the Lord as a pastor for over over 40 years, leading many souls to saving faith in Jesus Christ after himself being saved at the age of 19 in 1969. He was ordained by Bible Baptist Church in Owen County in 1971 and pastored Mount Hebron Church in Cloverdale for 12 years beginning in 1974. The bulk of Brother Don's ministry was spent leading Marshall Federated Church for 31 years until his retirement in 2017. He also preached part-time at Number 11 Mission Church and Parkeville Christian Church, and served as chaplain to Union Hospital Clinton, Union Hospital Terre Haute, the Parke County Jail and the Rockville Correctional Facility.\n\nBrother Don's joyful preaching mixed folksy anecdotes and aphorisms with deep theological knowledge and wisdom. He led music with his guitar in church, area nursing homes, and Christmastime visits to elementary schools. He baptized hundreds of people, and officiated hundreds of weddings and funerals during his career.\n\nBrother Don was named Parke County Man of the Year in 2013. Union Hospital Clinton named its chapel after him in 2019 in recognition of his years of service as chaplain.\n\nDuring his years as a full-time pastor, Brother Don at times held other jobs to support his family, most notably for Allison Transmission. He also furthered his education as an adult, receiving an associate degree from IUPUI, a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University and a master’s degree from Moody Bible Institute.\n\nDuring his life, Brother Don was known to greet people with a hug and the question "Have I told you lately that I love you?" In nearly every instance, the answer was yes.\n\nIn lieu of flowers, donations in Brother Don’s memory may be made to Marshall Federated Church, PO Box 57, Marshall, IN 47859.\n\n\n \n\nTo send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rev. Donald , please visit our floral store.\n
