I wanted to let you all know what an honor it is for me to be able to speak about my hero, my mentor, my friend and my father, Perry Fisher.
As one of his friends said, “Remembering Perry is easy it is the forgetting that is going to be impossible to do.”
Dad is an amazing man and I have truly been blessed to be able to learn from him for the last 32 years. It is difficult to summarize the life of such an amazing man so I ask for your prayers that I might be able to get through this without too much unrecognizable sobbing.
There were three pillars that Dad built his life around:
Faith 2. Family 3. Service
Everything my Father did fell into at least two of these categories and most of the time all three.
Perry Jean Fisher was born April 17, 1936 in McKinney Texas. He was the 3rd of 7 Children. Dad grew up poor in the worlds eyes but rich in love and experience. When he was older he changed the spelling of his middle name from the girl spelling “JEAN” his mother had given him to the man spelling of “GENE”.
His family was spiritual but didn’t attend a church. Every revival that came to town went after the Fisher family because if they got them, they could fill the first few rows of pews on their own. His Dad was very gracious with each preacher that came by, but he would ask each preacher, “Where did Jesus go immediately after his crucifixion?” He never got an answer so they attended only occasionally.
Dad learned to work at an early age farming with his father and brothers. They raised nearly every animal you could think of, so he developed a love for animals and for the outdoors. On one occasion his older Brother Fred had found a good deal on a miniature horse, so they decided they would just put it in the back seat of the car and drive it home. Dad held this 200 pound animal in the back seat the entire way home.
His family moved several times to different farms and each one had a new set of experiences for him. On one occasion they moved near the creek bottom in East McKinney and Dad felt like they had moved into a very fancy house because it had indoor plumbing. They had even gotten my grandmother a claw foot bath tub and a record player. This was wonderful until the creek flooded the house and washed most of the houses contents away. He said they had to paddle the bath tub back up the creek so they could get it home. There was no renters insurance like we have today, so they had to either find, replace or repair everything. They did have a great time with all the warped records that were found all around the creek and were able to use them as frisbees when time permitted.
When Dad was 14 he took his work ethic on the road to join the wheat harvest. This was no small feet because he traveled on his own from Texas all the way through Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. He worked from sun up to sun down 6 and half days a week to earn money to help support the family. Most of his transportation from Job to Job was by hitch hiking, a skill that he employed often over his early years.
It was very important to Dad to help make money to support his family so he worked any job he could find and raised many animals. Through the sweat of his brow he learned the value of a dollar, but he was not stingy. At one point his Dad gave him two goats to raise so he could have a little money of his own. Around the same time they were opening the first Library in McKinney, they were trying to raise money so Dad sold his two goats that he had been raising and donated the money to the library. Dad was always giving of himself for others.
His Daddy would always tell him, “Poor people of poor ways” and used that line to teach us to always save our money and not spend it on things that were not needed. Dad did not have poor ways and always found ways to make money and save money. Through out high school he worked and saved money to go to college at Texas A&M to become a veterinarian. When it came time for Dad go to college his family needed extra money to get through a tight spell, so Dad gave them money he had saved and joined the Army were he continued to help out as much as could.
When asked if he had found any thing while shopping at his favorite "chain stores" (garage sales and goodwill’s) he would often say, “I didn’t find anything that I liked better then the money in pocket.” He knew the value of a dollar, the freedom that comes from avoiding debt, and the importance of having a little something set aside for a rainy day.
Around this time he met a foxy 15 year old young lady named Bobbye Joyce Pharr of Houston. They dated several times before he left for Korea and several of these dates was supervised by her Grandmother Ola. In Bobbye’s words, “he made me feel like a queen and was the ultimate gentlemen.” Dad was a gentleman in every form of the word, there was never time a woman entered the room that he didn’t stand up, never a time that he sat in a chair while a woman stood without a chair, never a time that he didn’t open and hold doors for people regardless of the weather or situation. He always said, “Yes sir and Yes mam” and even did that in the hospital with his nurses the night before he died thanking her for whatever antibiotic she had brought in. She pulled mom aside and told her that he was such a gentleman and must of been an amazing man.
When he made it to Korea he was assigned to the 8th Army Honor Guard and would guard the Generals and their quarters among other things. While he was there, he and some of the men in his unit saw some kids eating out of the garbage by the army mess hall. They gave the kids food and each unit "adopted" a kid to take care of and on their days off, they started going out to orphanages near base and bringing food and clothes to help make sure they had enough for the kids. They worked with Mom's church youth group in Houston, who sent over clothing and shoes. The dental unit did the kids teeth and Dad's unit took care of a boy about 12 that they called "Jimmy". When Dad left Korea and was planning to come home and marry Mom, he wanted so badly to adopt Jimmy and bring him back to the U.S. Mom was only 18, so they didn't adopt Jimmy, but soon after Dad left Korea they heard that he'd been adopted by a family in Oklahoma. That experience meant so much to Dad.
While in Korea he met a young man named Larry Adams. He and Larry and a few others that would not go out to the bars and other questionable establishments during there down time, they had the opportunity to discuss many things and religion quickly became a topic of conversation. When he asked Larry the question his father had always asked about where Christ had gone after his crucifixion Larry told him he went to the spirit world to teach those that had not yet accepted the Gospel. He later gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, the writings of prophets here in the Americas during parts of the Old and New Testament. Larry was one of the First Mormons he had ever know, he attended services with him a few times and later mailed the book home to Bobbye. Dad said, “here I am on my way back from Korea, wondering what am I going to do about this situation I have Houston, where I am in love with this young lady and want to marry her, and I know a little bit about this church that seems like it would be the place to go?”
He married Bobbye shortly after that and they moved to Texas A&M for Dad to start Vet school. Shortly after that missionaries came by and taught them more about the Book of Mormon and about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They decided to join the church and were baptized on the most spiritual of all days, Halloween. This began a journey for them that blessed their lives and the lives of literally millions of people for generations to come.
Faith
Dad’s Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Gospel were central to the man that he was. Dad was a spiritual GIANT. He didn’t tower over everyone in a room physically but everyone knew he was there because of his sweet smile, firm inviting handshake, gentle demeanor, and the tender Christ-like spirit that he carried with him. Within 2 years of joining the Church Dad was called to lead a congregation of the church in Greenville TX. In November of 1977 he was called to serve as a councilor in the Stake presidency, presiding over several congregations and blessing the lives of everyone who met him. I was born in December of 1977 and he served in the Stake presidency for the next 17 years and was released when I was a senior high school.
He knew how to minister as the Savior would have done. He went into people's homes and helped them feel of his love and the love of our Heavenly Father. Dad was a great public speaker and delivered many power talks to thousands of people, but Dad would have rather been out seeking after 1 person and lifting their lives.
SERVICE
The Prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson Said
"The Savior taught His disciples, 'For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it' (Luke 9:24).
"I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives."
Thomas S. Monson, "What Have I Done for Someone Today?" Ensign, Nov. 2009, 85
Dad truly was an example of losing himself in the service of others. He was the best dishwasher I know. No matter where he went he would slip out of the crowd like a super hero and slip off his suit coat, tuck his tie into his shirt and go to work scrubbing dishes. At first I thought Dad just didn’t like crowds, but I soon realized he loved to be helping and he loved being able to communicate one on one with people while they washed and dried dishes. He followed the Saviors example of leaving the 99 and seeking out the 1.
Dad did his work in the trenches. There were countless times that Dad helped people in need, he rarely did it with a phone call, letter or email, he did it by going to their home, finding out what they needed and doing whatever was necessary to help and uplift them. It didn’t matter if that was the shirt on his back, the food from his freezer, a cinnamon roll from his trunk, a tool from his garage, or if he needed to get dirty in his good clothes to help fix a plumbing problem at one of the many widows that he home taught. He would do as the Savior did and reach out to help. He truly believed the words of King Benjamin that said:
Mosiah 2: 17
17 .... that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
As much as you saw Dad at meetings at meeting and service projects you would think surely the church was his full time job, but it was not. He was an Entomologist and worked for 30 years at Campbell Taggert as an Head of Environmental Controls and Compliance. Dad had to change his Major at Texas A&M because the Vet school required him to take Trigonometry and after 3 attempts he decided he needed to find another major so Entomology was his choice. He left before 6 am every morning and commuted 41 miles to work everyday. Often times he would come home, to quickly feed cows, and grab dinner as he walked out the door to turn around drive back to Plano for meetings and not return home till after 11:00 or later.
One memorable evening we were having dinner when Dad ran through to grab dinner on his way out the door. We were having a fine meal of hot dogs with a side of green beans. So my Father who loved, and I mean loved peanut butter, grabbed a hot dog and bun and placed a healthy coat of peanut butter on the hot dog then a scoop of green beans on top of that and ran out the door. He said the peanut butter served as a fine adhesive to hold the green beans in place while he drove and ate.
Family
Dad loved his family and his grandchildren. He had 7 favorite children over 26 years, and has 22 grand children. The 23rd is getting some one on one time with Papa right now and should join us in the next month. As busy as Dad was, he always made time for family. He loved to be outside at the farm playing with grand kids driving them all over in his golf cart. He was a fine mechanic but was not a gifted mechanic, and that is why he loved the golf carts because they were electric and as he said “they would always start.” He was at our sporting events, our church events, and anything that he needed to be at to show us that he loved and supported us. He also loved to visit with his Brothers and Sisters and would change anything in his schedule to be at the Fisher reunions in October and December. He was at his happiest when he was laughing with family, especially if that family laughter could done while working on a project.
The older I have become the more I appreciated the Balance that Dad displayed in his life. If Dad needed to go visit the widows in the ward he would take me with him. Not only did it teach me to give selfless service, but it gave us a chance to talk and for him to teach. Every summer there were big environmental conventions that Dad had to attend. Instead of just flying out for the week so it would be easier on him, he loaded everyone in the family up in the car and take us all with him for our annual summer vacation. We drove literally all over the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic and many places in between. Several times I remember 6 people in a 6 passanger Sedan for 2-3 days in the car, he taught us the importance of family togetherness.
He always tried to do things that would make us happy and always listened so that he could know and understand us. One summer we were all in Omaha Nebraska for Dad’s Convention, apparently there was a day off during the convention so we had a family day. My sister Sheri had expressed a desire to Dad that she had always wanted to go to Canada so that day we drove 8 hours to just across the border into Canada, spent 30 minutes at some tourist trap stores just across the border and then turned around and drove 8 hours back, all so we could see Canada.
For me Dad taught me about Faith, Service and Family any opportunity that he got. He took me to Stake meetings, he took me home teaching, he took me to service projects at the stake welfare farm, and took me to any service project he could find and taught me the importance of work and the importance of service all by example. This started at a young age so I was blessed with many opportunities younger then most people because Dad took me and taught me and helped give me life experiences. One week my older sister had invited me to go with her and her friends from out town to lunch at the Hard rock cafe on Saturday, I really wanted to go and was so excited. That Friday night Dad got a phone call that there had been a tornado at the Stake Welfare Farm and that our ward need to send men to work the next day to clean up. He asked me if I could join him but told me in the words he so often used, “Son it is your choice.” I was really torn, work in the heat all day with Dad or spend a refreshing outing at the Hard Rock? I chose to go with Dad and was given a chance to operate an acetylene cutting torch at age 9 or 10 to help cut steel I-beams and clean up after the tornado.
Dad also loved Scouting even though he was not a boy scout as a young man. This was another vehicle for Dad to teach me to serve and teach me to work. We spent countless hours working together on Jared Hull’s eagle project to tear down Sue Reeds house, and countless hours at the ward service project to then build a house for her. I learned skills that, much to my wife’s chagrin, I still use today in my own home and in my own service projects and I learned those skills working side by side with my father. He never asked you to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself. He truly taught by example and it didn’t matter if he was teaching me to use bailing wire to fix 90 percent of any problem and use duct tape for the other 10 percent, or if he was teaching me how teach and testify of Jesus Christ.
Since Dad never had a chance to be a Scout as a kid he expected, supported and encouraged each of his sons to become an Eagle Scout. As I hit the ever awkward mid-teenage years he still encouraged and assisted me in anyway possible. He loved to be outside and camping or deer watching (it couldn’t be called hunting because we never saw anything) it gave him a chance to get me away from distractions so that we could talk and get to know each other. 6 Days before the cut off age of 18 I passed my board of review and earned my Eagle Scout. I think at the time I did it more for him then for me, but like my wise Father knew, it would be a life changing event. After I expressed a little to much freedom as a 13 year old and got sent home early from Scout Camp, Dad came on every High Adventure or summer activity that I went on till I graduated high school. Dad would be right there paddling a canoe, manning the grill on a lake, holding on for dear life on a white water raft, belaying us while rock climbing or doing whatever it took to support me.
My Dad was no spring chicken but did whatever he needed to do to help and support me. Once in 6th grade the teacher had told us in the morning if we could get some snacks brought up to the school we could have a party to celebrate some achievement in science class, I called home and left a message for Mom to bring by some cookies and chips around 1:30, Dad was home sick that day and said, “Ok we will have it there at 1:30.” It wasn’t until I got down to the office to pick it up supplies that I found out what had happened. Mom was out running errands and Dad’s truck was in the shop, so he thought he would just drive the tractor to the beer store and get the requested chips and cookies. Again my father was not the greatest mechanic, so the tractor wouldn’t start either so he walked 2 and half miles each way to make sure I had what needed. He selflessly served everyday of his life.
To me the most important lesson Dad ever taught me was to be where I the Lord would have me be. If that was at a church meeting, a family dinner, or a service project, it didn’t matter but if there was a meeting of any sort I was supposed to be at I needed to be there. The principles learned, the experiences had, and the Faith that was developed through those lessons have helped shape me into the Man I am today and I will be forever be grateful to my Dad for that.
The last night that we had with Dad we were blessed with a tender miracle of being able to have 45 minutes with him completely awake, aware and coherent. The last piece of advice he gave us in this life was, "We are wasting the Lord's time and ours if we are not working every day to help ourselves and somebody else to improve." That was my Dad, the Man that I am proud to call my Dad, my Father, my Friend.
As we lay this body or Chassis as my Dad might of called it, to rest today, I know that the Motor, his spirit, is still going strong and is still with us and is here with us today working, teaching and loving just like he did. I have felt those sweet tender hugs on my heart, the fruits of the spirit that Paul described in his letter to the Galatians as love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness and faith. Those feelings have been here today testifying to our hearts of the principles of the Gospel that Dad loved and embodied every day of his life are true. He often told us that he was so grateful that he and Mom had decided to join the Church because it has been such a blessing to their lives. If something you have heard today has stirred a question, please speak to someone in the church today about it because that is the spirit teaching us, feeding us and supporting us today.
Since Dad passed on last Thursday I have not dreamed while I have been sleeping and I have wondered why? I think part of it has to do with the fact that with a man like Dad as your Father you could not dream of anything better or any better man. This body in front of us today is not Perry, or President Fisher, or Papa or Dad, it is merely the body that his spirit truly wore out in the service of others and I know that some day this body will be reunited with his spirit in a perfect form and that most of us will have to look twice at Dad, first because he will have a full head of hair, but then those same strong, faithful, loving arms of his will wrap us up in those wonderful Perry hugs and greet us.
Dad knew and I know that Jesus is the Christ, he took upon himself the signs of the world and he died for each of us and I know that he rose again on the third day. He was our ultimate example and showed us the path to follow. We will be resurrected and our Body and Spirits will be united again in their perfect form. I know that God loves us just as much as he did in ancient times that the heavens are not closed and that God continues to speak to a prophet on earth today. I have adapted the popular saying WWJD, what would Jesus do? to WWPD what would Papa or Perry do? I know with out a doubt that if I did what Dad would do, it would be what the Savior would do because that is man that Dad is. He made me want to be a better man so that I can feel his spirit close and be the man that he would have me be. I love you Dad and look forward to the Day when we can be together again, thank you for all you have given me and for the Legacy that you have established, you will be missed but never forgotten.
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
