Mr. Richard Joseph Petry

Mr. Richard Joseph Petry, 86, passed away on Monday, February 29, 2016, at the Forrest City Medical Center surrounded by his loving family and close friends. Dick was born on December 14, 1929 in Champaign, Illinois to Charles and Josephine Petry. Dick was born into a large and tight knit family, the fifth son and the seventh of eight children. He attended Holy Cross and Champaign (Central) High School. With four older brothers paving the way, Dick was a standout athlete. He was a member of the 1946 and ’47 state basketball championship and runner-up teams respectively, earning all-state honorable mention as a senior. In football, he was the quarterback of the 1947, 9-0 team that finished the year ranked #1. In golf, he won the Big 12 Championship and led the team to a 10th place overall State finish as a senior. He earned nine varsity letters and was inducted into the Champaign (Central) High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991. Dick went on to attend Regis College in Denver, Colorado, majoring in business. He earned seven varsity letters in basketball and golf and was named a NAIA All-America in basketball as a senior in 1951. After graduation, Dick spent two years in the US Air Force and then returned to Champaign to join his brother Paul at Petry Roofing and Sheet Metal Company, and worked there until his retirement in 1985. In 1956, Dick married Angela Gernon of Champaign and was married for 24 years until Angela’s passing in 1980. They had three children. Dick was a long time parishioner at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Champaign Country Club and Rotary Club. In 1991, Dick married Lynn Ash of Forrest City, Arkansas. Dick and Lynn moved to Forrest City a few years later and have lived happily together there for the last 15 years with many wonderful friends. He was a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and a member of the Forrest City Country Club. Dick will be remembered as a sweet, caring, and loving husband, father, and friend to many in both the Champaign and Forrest City communities. As one close friend said about Dick, “he was one of the most welcoming and kindest person you would ever meet. After you first met Dick you felt an immediate connection and genuine comfort level like you have been friends for years.” Dick is survived by his loving wife Lynn, his daughter Ann Petry of Chicago, IL., his daughter and son-in-law Susan and Mark Wavering of Champaign, IL., his son and daughter-in-law Charlie and Molly Petry of Johns Creek, GA., grandsons Ryan and Evan Johnson of Champaign, IL., grandsons Sam and Ben Petry of Johns Creek, GA., his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Ted Purvin of Riverside, IL., his sister and brother-in-law Pat and Jim Kramer of Virginia Beach, VA., his sister in-law Patty Petry of Champaign, IL., sister-in-law Andie Gernon of Tacoma, WA., sister-in-law Frances Ash of Collierville, TN., stepson and daughter-in-law Paul and Mia Henley of Memphis, TN., stepdaughter and son-in-law Marlo and David Priest of Fayetteville, AR., stepson David Henley of Penfield, IL., and step grandchildren Edward, John, and George Henley of Memphis, TN. and Helen and Aden Priest of Fayetteville, AR., and numerous nieces and nephews. Dick is preceded in death by his first wife Angela, his brother and sister-in-law Chuck and Margaret Petry, his brothers Bob and Paul Petry, brother and sister-in-law Jack and Jo Petry, his sister and brother-in-law Lois and Joe Schilling, brothers-in-law John and Bill Gernon, and brother-in-law Joe Ash. Funeral visitation will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2016 from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home in Forrest City, AR. The funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 4, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Forrest City, AR. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Dick’s memory to the Shriners Hospital for children and the American Cancer Society. Visit online registry at stevensfuneralhome.net.

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Mr. Richard Joseph Petry

December 14, 1929 - February 29, 2016