Michael Perry passed into the arms of Jesus Sunday evening Feb. 26 at the age of 77 after a long fight with cancer.
He was born in East Middlebury in 1946 to Pete and Rhoda (Goodro) Perry. Both sides of his family have deep roots in the state. His maternal grandfather was Harry Goodro who, with his wife Mildred, started a small lumber mill in Ripton in 1929, moving it later to East Middlebury.
It was there at the Goodro Lumber Company that Mike spent his formative years working with his extended family. His father’s family, generally all from the Chester area, include George W. Perry, a well known Unitarian minister, state geologist, and founder of Eagle Camp in South Hero. Mike was an active keyboard musician throughout his life, playing in the Middlebury High School band, and in his own band, “The Four of Us,” which he formed with his cousin, John. He played baseball from an early age, pitching for many of the leagues in and around Middlebury. He was educated at the village schools in Middlebury and then at Castleton State and finally at Dean Junior College. He was a professional bowler for a short time before returning to work in East Middlebury. In 1968, the Goodro family bought land in what was then the town of Sherburne and built a satellite location on the flats along State Routes 4 and 100. In 1974, Mike took on the role of managing the new enterprise. He would go on to buy the Sherburne location with his brother -in -law, Bill Shaw, in 1978, re-incorporate it as Goodro Killington Inc, and serve there in the capacity of co-proprietor and polymath for the next 30 years. He had a head for numbers and a fondness for the customer base, two qualities that flowed from him with a quiet humility. He retired from the business in 2009 and spent the following years enjoying the whimsy of travel and the twin leisures of golf and the Boston Red Sox. In 1964, Mike met Sandra Shaw. The two courted for many years before marrying on Cape Cod in 1973. They enjoyed 50 beautiful years together at their home in Bridgewater. They were active members of the Oak Chapel Christian Fellowship where he served as an elder and as piano player. He leaves behind Sandie, his sister Martha, many cousins, nieces and nephews as well as many friends and co-workers. The family wishes to thank the caring people at The Meadows and Rutland Hospital for their help during Mike’s last months.
