John R. Tayloe

AHOSKIE - John Ethrel Monroe Perry lost his courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease and strokes in his home at 300 Ruritan St., surrounded by family and friends on the evening on April 5, 2001. He was under the loving care of his family and health caregiver, Ernestine Felton and Hospice. A native of Bertie County, N.C., John was the son of the late Lee O. Perry and Vera B. Perry. He is survived by his wife, Carrie Jo Pratt Perry; his daughter, Jo Perry Tolbert and her husband, John B. Tolbert of Roxobel, N.C.; and two grandchildren, Joseph M. ''Sonny'' Browne III, Roxobel, N.C., and Johnna Rebecca Browne, Windsor. The sixth child in a family of 11 children, he is also survived by Martha Baker of Hubbard, Texas, Elsie Williams, Esther Perry and Wallace Perry, all of Colerain, N.C., Carolyn Parker of Manteo, N.C., and Joyce Perry of Ahoskie. John was predeceased by Oliver Perry, Catherine Henry, Randolph Perry and Doris Holloman. John was an Army veteran and he served in Germany during World War II. Back at home in the Wakelon Community after the war, John became a farmer and married his sweetheart Carrie Jo on March 15, 1947. When he was 22, their daughter, Jo, was born. John continued to farm in the Wakelon Community until his retirement in 1989. Soon after retiring, John and Carrie Jo made their home in Ahoskie, N.C. At his new home, he continued his enjoyment of tilling the soil by maintaining and landscaping his yard. They enjoyed their retirement until John was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Then in August, John was hit by several severe strokes that caused him to be bedridden until his death. At Wakelon Baptist Church where John was a member, he served as Sunday School superintendent, a deacon, and church treasurer. He was a member of Mars Hill Ruritan Club. Reflecting his love for the land, John served as supervisor of the Bertie County Water and Soil Conservation Service. This was an important part of John's life for many years. John was everyone's ''Grandpa.'' God works in his own due time - always being the helping hand and strong shoulder to lean on was who Grandpa was. He was proven that we were right in thinking he was a strong person, but as his death approached, he showed us all that he was stronger than we ever imagined. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in Garrett Funeral Home, Ahoskie, by the Rev. Charles W. Thompson. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery, Colerain, N.C. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today and other times at the home, 300 Ruritan St., Ahoskie. Memorial donations may be made to the Ahoskie Rescue Squad or University Health Care Systems Hospice, P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, NC 27910.