Obituary: Graham "Gray" Perrett - Class of 1955

MADISON - Graham "Gray" Perrett was freed on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, from the pain and suffering he's struggled with since having a stroke in November 2006. Gray was born on Oct. 12, 1937, in Devizes, Wiltshire, England. He came with his family to the Madison area after his oldest sister married a GI. Gray graduated from Central High School in 1955. He was a founding member of the Madison 56er Soccer Club and he retained a lifelong love of soccer. When health issues no longer allowed him to play the game he loved, Gray held many "jobs," such as games commissioner, referee commissioner, state board member, coach, etc. His last big soccer related event was watching nearly every televised match of the 2006 World Cup. Gray initially worked in the building trades but due to a back problem, he joined the automotive field, first as a salesman and finally, for the past 20 years, as the fleet manager for American Family Insurance. Gray loved nearly all sports, politics, world events and was a champion story teller, often embellishing the facts just enough to make it a really great tale! Gray is survived by his wife of nearly 25 years, Anita; children, Todd, Tammy (John) Koremenos and Tracy; stepchildren, Colleen (Kent) Humphrey, Valerie (Matt) Savarie and Betsy (Carl) Pyper; 10 grandchildren; sisters, Beryl McDermott, Eileen Gibbs, and "daddy's little girl," Patches. He was preceded in death by a son, Jeff; and a sister, June. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gray's charity of choice, the Boy Scouts, or to Attic Angel Place or HospiceCare. The family wishes to give a special thank you to the kind and loving staffs of both HospiceCare and Attic Angel Place, who made Gray's last months so much more comfortable! Gray had a big and loving heart, and will be deeply missed. "One final "ta ta" to my loveable Limey. We love you always. God bless!" Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on February 6, 2008