Ruth Perry (20 Aug 1928 - 4 May 2024)

In loving memory of Ruth Perry who sadly passed away on 4th May 2024. Ruth was the only child of Sidney and Maggie Morris, born in Chilthorne Domer. Her father was the founder of S. Morris Ltd and Morris & Perry Ltd, family companies that are still going strong today. She went to the village school and then on to Yeovil Girls Grammer School.

She went to College to study Pharmacy first in London and then in Plymouth. After graduation, she worked in Somerset as a Locum chemist for many years. She married and started having the four children she always wanted in the 1950’s. And as was the norm for middle class women in those days, she gave up work and stayed at home to look after her children, got involved in the local WI, supported her husband when he was a local councillor and part of Rotary. Especially once her children had left home, she got more involved in voluntary work particularly with the WRVS at the local hospital.

She was a cultured woman having strong lifelong interests in film theatre dance art and music especially classical music. She was also very interested in gardening, history and politics. Throughout her life if she couldn’t find anyone who could go with her to the theatre or the cinema or on holiday (and she was very well travelled) she would simply go on her own. Perhaps being an only child shaped her determination to encourage her children to be independent too.

Ruth loved watching sport, she was a keen supporter of Somerset, partly moving to Taunton to be near the cricket; she would walk to match days with her 3 wheeler, talk to anyone and everyone in the long room and get a taxi back, or walk if the wait was too long. She part owned several horses, the most notable being Acclamation, winner of the Diadem Stakes and runner-up in the King's Stand Stakes in 2003 trained by Gerald Cottrell, she would often meet the horse trailer on the A303 on its way to the races and travel with them.

She was heavily involved in the design and construction of 3 of her homes, her neighbours in Yeovil first met her when she was up the scaffolding having a look around, Pennymill in Gurney Slade followed and then Sims Barton in Stoke St Micheal. She remained there into her 80s helped by a pair of Taxi drivers who would deliver her to have her hair done and do the shopping. When considering Ellisfields Court she wanted to see the flat. The developers thought she would be put off by seeing it in the construction phase but Mum was well used to that and was happy to see and choose her flat.

She spend the last 10 years living in Ellisfields Court, which initially she was worried might be a bit small, but it rapidly came apparent to her that this had been a very good move, giving her the support she needed and the social contact upon which she thrived. The staff at Ellisfields have been amazing in looking after her, as more recently has the Bluebirds care agency.

She was always interested in the activities of her family; for the last 26 years she has been involved in a regular family weekend away. Ruth leaves four children, 7 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

Thank you Mum for your love and support and sharing your passions, we will miss you.

There will be a reception directly after the funeral at Somerset Cricket Club in the 1875 Club; the first floor of the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion, on the St James Street side of the ground.