Oleta Perry's Obituary
Claudie Oleta Perry was born February 1, 1926 in Greenbrier, Arkansas. She was one of twelve children born to Claud and Ella Mae Tubbs. The Great Depression struck when she was just three years old, and her family moved to Texas in search of new opportunities. Through her formative years and into adulthood she was known by most as Oleta. She loved animals, playing softball, and traveling with her best friends. She had many roles, including devoted wife to E.O. Perry; loving mother to Anne, Hollis, Danny, Melinda, and Jerry; dedicated sister (to eleven others); and doting aunt to what seems like countless nieces and nephews (she didn’t have favorites, but if she did, Mike Tubbs probably earned the title). Oleta could adapt to essentially any environment. She could feed a room full of cigar smoking, whiskey drinking, poker players on Saturday night, and be in the pew with her King James Bible in hand by 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning. There was no role she could not fill. But her most important role, the one she was born for, was being a grandmother.
In 1962, Oleta officially transitioned to “Granny,” and “Granny” is how the vast majority of the world would know her from then on. The roster of grandchildren is lengthy, but she could list them off without blinking an eye– Scott, Stephen, Ginger, Julie, Danielle, Mandy, Cody, and Casey. Later she was blessed to have great-grandchildren – Paige, Hope, Riley, Billy, Gracelyn, and Collin, and even great-great-grandchildren. In addition to all of those, she also had uncountable “adopted” grandkids who she welcomed into her home for whom she would cook biscuits and gravy or bake cookies, and consistently asked about and loved on until her final days. Even with a family as large as hers, she had more love to share, and share she did.
Granny cherished the simple things in life – spending time with family, reading her Bible, a good movie with a dog as a main character, and cooking for those she loved. She was clever and witty, and had a sense of sarcasm so subtle, it often went unrecognized by the untrained ear. But above all else, Granny loved. Her spirit oozed it and everyone who came into contact with her, or even heard stories about her, had an immediate fondness and bond, and it didn’t take long for them to understand why everyone else was so crazy about her – she was the world’s one and only…Granny.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11AM on Saturday, September 10, 2022 in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Memorial Park. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Restland Memorial Park.
Funeral arrangements for Ms. Oleta Perry have been faithfully entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery, which is located at 13005 Greenville Ave., at the intersection of Restland Road, Dallas, Texas 75243, and can be reached at (972) 238-7111.
What’s your fondest memory of Oleta?
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Share a story where Oleta's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Oleta you’ll never forget.
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