Sara Wattles Perry

PERRY, Sara Wattles
Of Kalamazoo, Michigan Sara's smile, no one could mistake Sara's smile. It was contagious. Sara's laugh. Distinctive. That laugh could be heard all over. Sara was full of energy, caring, loyal, fun, creative, determined, competitive and courageous. Sara loved life. Sara loved her family and her friends. Most importantly, Sara loved God, and this has enriched her love of everyone and everything else. She first saw the face of Jesus Christ, her beloved Lord and Savior, on Tuesday July 1, 2008 after a courageous battle with leukemia. She was born February 23, 1959, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of John C. and Helen Fischer Wattles. Sara was a true woman of faith who desired to glorify God in what ever He called her to do. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1981 with an Education degree, and went on to teach preschool at Milwood Methodist Co-Op Nursery. She was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church and was currently a member of Calvary Bible Church. Additionally, she was actively involved in BSF International for the past 22 years - the last 10 being a Teaching Leader. Throughout her life Sara was involved in the Awana Program, Vacation Bible School , Mom's in Touch, the Kalamazoo Figure Skating Club as a skater and a coach and was a devoted "horse show mom." You could find her relaxing on a beach, spending time with her Lord, discipling women, exercising, enjoying the competition at horse shows, admiring God's creation - from flowers to the Rocky Mountains, coordinating the celebration of milestones in the lives of her family and friends, and making plans to become a grandmother in the coming years. On January 5, 1980, Sara was united in marriage, a loving wife to Erick D. Perry who survives. She was the loving mother of her surviving son, Robert S. Perry, II of Denver, CO; and her two daughters, Catherine W. Perry and Elizabeth W. Perry both of Kalamazoo; her parents, John C. and Helen F. Wattles of Kalamazoo; her brother, Charles D. Wattles Rosemary C. Willey of Kalamazoo; her sister, Catherine W. Peter J. Barnes of Edison, NJ; her mother and father-in-law, Robert S. and Lorraine H. Perry of Birmingham, MI; two sister-in-laws, Candace D. Perry of Denver, NC and Cynthia M. Perry Richard E. Sayers of Oakton, VA; and several special nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by her family, many in our community and other places because of her genuine compassion for others that came from her love and dedication to the Lord. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-5pm and Monday from 2-4 and 6-8pm at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street. 269343-1508. www.langelands.com . A private family interment will be held in Hope Cemetery, Texas Township. A Memorial Service to celebrate Sara's life will be held 1:00pm Tuesday at Calvary Bible Church 855 S. Drake Rd. with Rev. Bill Crawford officiating. For those who wish, memorials in Sara's memory may be directed to BSF International, Calvary Bible Church or the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center/Bone Marrow Transplant Research Fund.