Sammy Lee Perrry

Sammy Lee Perry, 81, of Bixby, OK, died in Tulsa on October 31, 2025, following a brief illness. He was born in Dalhart, TX, on June 11, 1944, to William Churchill and Ruby Viola Vaught Perry. He was educated in Dalhart’s public schools, graduating from Dalhart High School in May 1962.

Following high school graduation, Sam attended West Texas State University (now WTA&MU), earning a BBA in Finance in August 1971. During this time, he also served in the Army National Guard from 1966 until 1972.

After college graduation, Sam moved to the Dallas area, where he worked as a group insurance underwriter and then in the food and beverage industry in both Dallas and Amarillo. In 1988 he returned to Dalhart, where he was the service department manager for the Ford dealership for over 15 years. While living in Dalhart, Sam was an active member of Dalhart Elks Lodge 2390 and served as Exalted Ruler for four terms.

In the summer of 2005, Sam moved to Amarillo and married the love of his life, Sheri Thompson Cook, that November. He worked as an automotive service advisor in Amarillo until his retirement from Plains Chevrolet in 2011. His post-retirement careers included shuttle driver for the Kia dealership and, later, six seasons as a real-beard Santa in malls in Odessa, Muskogee, Tulsa, Austin, El Paso, and Norman for Cherry Hills Programs.

While in Amarillo, Sam and Sheri were active members of Hillside Christian Church, and Sam served as a leader in Celebrate Recovery! and Stephen Ministry. After Sheri’s retirement in 2016, Sam & Sheri became residents of Spearfish, SD, with a second home in Bixby, enabling them to live near their children and grandchildren. During his summers in SD, Sam enjoyed many rounds of golf as a member of the Spearfish Canyon Golf Club and was instrumental in establishing a GriefShare program at Spearfish Methodist Church. In Tulsa, they attended Asbury Church, where Sam was involved with GriefShare, the church’s Congregational Care Ministry, and the Faithbuilders Community.

Sam took up golf at the age of fifty and was extremely proud of his lifetime three holes-in-one. Sam also enjoyed cooking and solving puzzles. He and Sheri enjoyed traveling together, especially a 2019 tour of the Holy Land.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joe William Perry and sister Patricia Jane Wilkinson, and his son Brian Scot Perry.

He is survived by his wife Sheri of Bixby; nieces and nephews Tracy Griffin of Amarillo, Bert Abla of Owasso, OK, Kurtis Abla of Dalhart, Clay Abla of Castle Rock, CO, Wendy Williams of Lubbock, and Dana Wilkinson of Dalhart, and Kelsey Ahern of Austin and Houston Thompson of Grand Canyon, AZ; step-daughters Kathleen Wise of Broken Arrow, and Carolyn Short of Spearfish; step-grandchildren Evan and Hugh Roles, Ariana Short and Lindsey and Preston Wise, Saidee and Sidnee Short; and many great-nieces and -nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Monday November 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM in the Asbury Church Mason Chapel with Rev. Andrew Forrest presiding. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at asbury6767.online.church.

In honor of Sam’s memory and values and in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.donate.cancer.org, the American Heart Association at www.heart.org , or another charity of the donor’s choice.