Perry Paden

© The Stilwell Democrat Journal

May 14, 2008

Submitted by: Martha Real

Perry Paden
November 20, 1935-May 8, 2008

Perry Paden was born November 20, 1935 to Taylor and Daisy (Walters) Paden in Stilwell, Oklahoma
He died May 8, 2008. Perry was 72 years, 5 months and 18 days old.

He was one of a set of fraternal twins, with a wonderfully, capable mind but hampered by physical limitations. With his brothers and sisters he grew up on a farm south and east of Stilwell. He attended elementary school at Zion until his handicap became so severe that he could not walk. After his public school experience, he remained at home with his mother, Daisy Paden, who attended his needs until her death in 1982. His education was not ended by his being home bound. He was home schooled by J.L. Hallford and with the concern, knowledge, patience and efforts of this wonderful man, Perry earned 8th and 12th grade diplomas. In addition, he also completed a course in bookkeeping.
In spite of his handicap, Perry had a keen sense of humor and because of his pent up energy he was always eager to laugh uproariously at those things he regarded humorous.
Books, a radio and a record player were his constant companions. His genres, in reading were western and detective stories. He loved country music and knew many of the performers by name as well as bits and pieces of information about their personal lives.
With the coming of television, his life had another dimension which consisted of watching the stories he had been reading. Life had little for him but he was a man of moral acuity with few pleasures and no vices unless smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee are vices....he loved to do both...and did so until later in life, under the persuasion of his doctor, he gave up the cigarettes.

Perry was preceded in death by his parents and his twin brother, Jerry, who died in an automobile accident in 1951.

Surviving him are his brothers and sister-in-law; Richard and Dixie Paden of Ft. Worth, Texas, Donald and Joann Paden of Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Dale and Diana Paden of Tahlequah, OK. Also surviving him are his sisters and brother-in-law; Linda and Don Hensley, Broken Arrow, OK., Jimmie and David Worth, Muskogee, OK., Louise Paden, Muskogee, OK., JoAnn Warren Stilwell, OK., and Edna Jean Helmick East Lake, Ohio.
He is also survived by two aunts; Edna Roberts and Lena Braden and one uncle; Keith Paden all of Stilwell, OK. Several nieces, nephews and many cousins also survive him.

Graveside services were held, Monday, May 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with Bro. Mike Newberry officiating in the Stilwell City Cemetery.
Interment followed under the direction of Roberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Home.