- Date Of Birth: February 23, 1923
- Date Of Death: April 8, 2020
- State: Idaho
Perry Arthur Justice died on the morning of April 8, 2020 of natural causes. He was 97 years old.
Perry Arthur Justice was born February 23, 1923 in Hagerman, Idaho to Arthur William and Francis Ellen Stephens Justice. Perry reminisced: “Nobody had a better childhood than I did.” Growing up on a horse and cattle ranch beneath the Justice Grade, there was always fun to be had riding horses and rousing good times playing cards with his loving parents, five siblings, and cousins.
Upon graduating from Hagerman High School, he enlisted in the US Army in 1942. Perry was part of the Second Engineer Special Brigade operating in the Pacific.
After the war, Perry married Norma Kathleen Ploss of Jerome, Idaho. He received a BS in chemistry from the University of Denver. Working as a chemical engineer for Dow Chemical Company for eight years, he decided he wanted to work with people. Subsequently, he taught chemistry and physics in Idaho high schools. After retirement came his favorite job: a reporter and editor for “The Farm and Ranch Reporter” of Meridian, Idaho. He loved talking with people and was a great story teller.
Perry was passionate about the visual arts, especially painting, wood carving, and printmaking. He had a thirst for knowledge and was a bibliophile, studying Western history, geology, and solar energy. In his spare time hunted mushrooms, rock hounded, salmon fished in Alaska professionally, and built a three-story house in New Meadows Idaho, almost single handedly. He remained active throughout his life – golfing, bowling, and ballroom dancing. He hiked and skied into his late eighties. His daughter, upon seeing a drawer full of gold metals from the Senior Olympics, commented: “Dad, I didn’t know you were such an athlete.” His reply: “Well, when you are the only one who enters, it’s pretty easy!”
Perry is survived by his dear friend of 17 years – June Heise; his daughters – Sivita Eve Justice, Jennifer Ann Justice, and April Lee Justice; his son – Gregory Kim Justice; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren; and cousins – Florence Mary Sandy, age 96, Bill Jones, age 93, and Willa Walton, age 89.
He was preceded in death by his son – Michael Douglas Justice; brothers – Leonard Stephens Justice and James Wilson Justice and sisters – Willie Lee “Billie” Johnston, Margaret Francis Hoff, and Eleanor Earl Swoboda.
Perry’s advice on living: “Be kind to everyone.”
