Memories
Dawn Perrin. October 12, 2015.
My sweet husband passed from this life at about 12:15 this afternoon. He went more peacefully than I imagined possible. He had what looked like a smile on his face. In the last few days, I can't tell you how many times he told me he was happy...SO happy. He had a special look at life beyond pain and suffering. He struggled to speak, yet conveyed to everyone who he saw that there is a world beyond description waiting for God's children.
Thank you all and everyone who prayed for David while he traveled this journey. He is finally healed! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Thank you all and everyone who prayed for David while he traveled this journey. He is finally healed! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Eli Perrin. October 14, 2015.
Well, for any of you guys that don't know, my father completed his journey on Monday. He had said over and over that he was so happy, so happy.
He was truly an incredible man, one that was an inspiration for many people, and a dear friend to many more. He was the kind of person that could make you feel like the only person there in a room full of people, and that is something that is extremely rare in any person I've known. My father was the biggest inspiration for me to pursue music, and to strive to do my best. He is going to be missed by many people, including myself, but he will not be forgotten. He will survive through his music, his memories in me and others, and through his actions.
A man of God has found his way home, and though the journey was long, it now ends in a well-deserved rest and celebration for who he was and what his influence will continue to be to others for generations and generations to come. Though we may feel we have lost a part of ourselves with his journey ending, he continues on in us, our memories of him influencing everything about us, even down to the way we act towards ourselves and others. We may not be able to have any new memories with him, but the ones we retain are immortalized by the actions they have caused us to do.
I'm very proud of my father, and I look forward to the day when I can join him at this journey's end and that journey's beginning. I rest assured that my life and journey have been aided and guided by his, and I have nothing to fear. However, for the time being I will choose this quote of his and his father's to describe my feelings: "Nothing hurts like pain."
He was truly an incredible man, one that was an inspiration for many people, and a dear friend to many more. He was the kind of person that could make you feel like the only person there in a room full of people, and that is something that is extremely rare in any person I've known. My father was the biggest inspiration for me to pursue music, and to strive to do my best. He is going to be missed by many people, including myself, but he will not be forgotten. He will survive through his music, his memories in me and others, and through his actions.
A man of God has found his way home, and though the journey was long, it now ends in a well-deserved rest and celebration for who he was and what his influence will continue to be to others for generations and generations to come. Though we may feel we have lost a part of ourselves with his journey ending, he continues on in us, our memories of him influencing everything about us, even down to the way we act towards ourselves and others. We may not be able to have any new memories with him, but the ones we retain are immortalized by the actions they have caused us to do.
I'm very proud of my father, and I look forward to the day when I can join him at this journey's end and that journey's beginning. I rest assured that my life and journey have been aided and guided by his, and I have nothing to fear. However, for the time being I will choose this quote of his and his father's to describe my feelings: "Nothing hurts like pain."
Tim Perrin. From Thanksgiving Meditation, November 12, 2015.
Today as I reflect on Thanksgiving, I’m struck by the way our faith gives us a posture of gratitude—not just when things are good, but also, perhaps especially, when we face the hard times.
One writer has said that gratitude is the art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture and I think there is deep Christian truth in that statement.
This year for me has been one of watching my brother Dave live joyfully and gratefully while approaching death. He leaves such a powerful witness of how authentic Christian faith transforms our outlook on the future, on how we live and how we die, and how it shapes our attitudes. In his last days, when he had one foot in the world beyond our own, Dave spent his time with a wide-eyed look and a big smile. He appeared to be staring at the ceiling, but when he commented on what he was seeing, he said things like, “it’s beautiful” and “wow.” He had a constant sense of wonder about him as he neared the end of his time with us.
GK Chesterton, the great British thinker and theologian, once wrote, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Happiness doubled by wonder. Isn’t that great? It brings to mind for me Jesus’s teaching to his disciples that we are to become like children. A grateful heart requires one who sees beyond the here and now. It requires childlike eyes of faith that see the beauty and mystery and wonder all around us, even in moments of pain and suffering.
One writer has said that gratitude is the art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture and I think there is deep Christian truth in that statement.
This year for me has been one of watching my brother Dave live joyfully and gratefully while approaching death. He leaves such a powerful witness of how authentic Christian faith transforms our outlook on the future, on how we live and how we die, and how it shapes our attitudes. In his last days, when he had one foot in the world beyond our own, Dave spent his time with a wide-eyed look and a big smile. He appeared to be staring at the ceiling, but when he commented on what he was seeing, he said things like, “it’s beautiful” and “wow.” He had a constant sense of wonder about him as he neared the end of his time with us.
GK Chesterton, the great British thinker and theologian, once wrote, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Happiness doubled by wonder. Isn’t that great? It brings to mind for me Jesus’s teaching to his disciples that we are to become like children. A grateful heart requires one who sees beyond the here and now. It requires childlike eyes of faith that see the beauty and mystery and wonder all around us, even in moments of pain and suffering.
Kim Baker. October 17, 2015.
When I think of David, music is the first thing that comes to mind. David and Dawn and Kurt sang at our children's weddings. Dawn and David sang a special song at our precious Dakota's funeral. Then there were all the family times just singing. I will always think of David singing Christopher Robin to the kids. The time that stands out in my mind is David, Dawn, Mom and I singing in the kitchen while doing dishes. Kitchen quartets have the best harmony!
Lanette White. October 17, 2015.
Some of my favorite and most special moments at my grandmother's house were our family devotionals, and I can't possibly remember those times without hearing Uncle David's voice leading our family in praise and worship. Besides being such a talented musician, he always seemed to have a smile on his face and a peacefulness about him, even when the whole family was gathered in one house and it was bursting at the seams. He is truly a man who fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith!
Kara Knehans. October 13, 2015.
David was a man who was generous with his time, his talent, and his treasure. He spent his vacation days helping my sister, Kim, and her husband Larry, who is totally incapacitated. He coached and "walked" and helped the homeless. He FELT like singing and he was never stingy with his musical talent. He sang at our weddings and at our funerals. His voice rang out strong and clear when we buried our Dad, our Grandparents, our baby niece, Dakota. Even when he was too weak to walk, he found a way to just BE THERE for those important moments. He cheered the loudest and laughed the longest and listened like he had nowhere else to be. In the past year he was handing out forgiveness like candy and thank-yous and I'm-sorrys to everyone he talked to, and he told us he was blessed and happy. He turned obligations into opportunities to get to know people, and he turned responsibilities into relationships. The very last time I saw his eyes open, a week ago today, the twinkle was still there and he had a smile on his face. He gave away money like he was a rich man who had no need of it himself. Most of all he was generous with his love. He made a vow to our sister, Dawn, and he kept it with joy, and he was our son and our uncle, and he was our brother. We'll never forget you, David Perrin.
Geoff Casella. October 13, 2015.
I just heard last night about Dave Perrin. I’ve been brooding about it all weekend because I knew it seemed inevitable. ...In a few days someone at Vandelia is going to have to give a eulogy. What a task! How do you sum up such a life? By Satan’s directive, he would have died many years ago. In the interim, he had a wife and two children whom he loved, and blessed a lot of other lives -- but it was nothing extraordinary -- except for those he interacted with. If you looked at Jesus’ life before His resurrection, it may not have seemed extraordinary from a historical standpoint either, in spite of His miracles that people would try to explain away.
Dave was one of the most humble people I know. And since humility is something very important to Jesus, I suspect Dave will be in a high place in the Kingdom of Heaven. I look forward to the example of such people in Heaven. He had a way of mentioning my name in conversation that would make me feel like I was the most important person in the world. He seemed to intuitively understand the scriptures that tell us to place others above ourselves. He may have thought about it or said it to others, but I don’t remember an unkind word ever coming out of his mouth, either in high school or the many years since. God opposes the proud but lifts up the humble. Dave has been lifted up and joins that “great cloud of witnesses” I look forward to being reunited with some day. It won’t be quite the same visiting [Lubbock] without him but it’s not forever. We will join him soon enough, and I’m ok with that too.
Dave was one of the most humble people I know. And since humility is something very important to Jesus, I suspect Dave will be in a high place in the Kingdom of Heaven. I look forward to the example of such people in Heaven. He had a way of mentioning my name in conversation that would make me feel like I was the most important person in the world. He seemed to intuitively understand the scriptures that tell us to place others above ourselves. He may have thought about it or said it to others, but I don’t remember an unkind word ever coming out of his mouth, either in high school or the many years since. God opposes the proud but lifts up the humble. Dave has been lifted up and joins that “great cloud of witnesses” I look forward to being reunited with some day. It won’t be quite the same visiting [Lubbock] without him but it’s not forever. We will join him soon enough, and I’m ok with that too.
Sherry Casella. October 15, 2015.
Thinking back on all my/our memories of David tonight. Geoff went to high school with him. Tonight he even showed me a yearbook picture of the two of them in a play together.
Dave and I overlapped at then-LCC for a couple of years, but I knew him only as the son of my fabulously wonderful History professor. During that time, A Cappella had a concert at La Junta, and my roommate and I ended up staying with Elvin and Hazel. In visiting around the dinner table, I learned they were Dawn's parents, and more pieces of the Perrin puzzle fell into place.
Early in our married life we settled into the Vandelia church family, welcomed and embraced by the Perrin clan and others. In addition to sharing our church family, David and Dawn were a part of our Bible class, and a Prayer Group, and a Life Group, and random singings at the front of the auditorium, and a "lunch bunch" that used MamaRita's cheap food as an excuse for post-worship fellowship every chance we got. We shared buckets of chips and gallons of salsa and just a whole lot of life together, back in the day.
I remember a Valentine's Day party for the "young marrieds" in February 1986. Jerry and Carla Shelton were the newest newlyweds, Geoff and I were somewhere in the middle, and David and Dawn had been married the longest (7 years), so it came as no surprise that they won the "how would your spouse answer this question" game.
Dave and Les could be prompted to sing at the drop of a hat -- half the time they preemptively THREW down the hats -- and so many of our memories are of songs we sang together in hey-do-you-know-this-one style (because that's just how we rolled). Some were old favorites, others we sightread cold. And when Lynn Davis kicked us out so he could lock up the church, we might possibly have just continued the impromptu songfest at somebody's house...sometimes till 1:45 the next morning, when somebody would happen to look at his/her watch and exclaim how-did-it-get-THIS-late and I-have-to-be-at-work-in-5-hours and scramble for car keys and start heading home, still humming with whatever scraps of voice remained.
Dave had a knack for remembering OTHER people's favorite hymns, and suggesting them instead of his own when his turn came around. When leading worship, he also had a gifting for choosing songs that he knew would speak a healing message into someone's current circumstances.
Dave and I overlapped at then-LCC for a couple of years, but I knew him only as the son of my fabulously wonderful History professor. During that time, A Cappella had a concert at La Junta, and my roommate and I ended up staying with Elvin and Hazel. In visiting around the dinner table, I learned they were Dawn's parents, and more pieces of the Perrin puzzle fell into place.
Early in our married life we settled into the Vandelia church family, welcomed and embraced by the Perrin clan and others. In addition to sharing our church family, David and Dawn were a part of our Bible class, and a Prayer Group, and a Life Group, and random singings at the front of the auditorium, and a "lunch bunch" that used MamaRita's cheap food as an excuse for post-worship fellowship every chance we got. We shared buckets of chips and gallons of salsa and just a whole lot of life together, back in the day.
I remember a Valentine's Day party for the "young marrieds" in February 1986. Jerry and Carla Shelton were the newest newlyweds, Geoff and I were somewhere in the middle, and David and Dawn had been married the longest (7 years), so it came as no surprise that they won the "how would your spouse answer this question" game.
Dave and Les could be prompted to sing at the drop of a hat -- half the time they preemptively THREW down the hats -- and so many of our memories are of songs we sang together in hey-do-you-know-this-one style (because that's just how we rolled). Some were old favorites, others we sightread cold. And when Lynn Davis kicked us out so he could lock up the church, we might possibly have just continued the impromptu songfest at somebody's house...sometimes till 1:45 the next morning, when somebody would happen to look at his/her watch and exclaim how-did-it-get-THIS-late and I-have-to-be-at-work-in-5-hours and scramble for car keys and start heading home, still humming with whatever scraps of voice remained.
Dave had a knack for remembering OTHER people's favorite hymns, and suggesting them instead of his own when his turn came around. When leading worship, he also had a gifting for choosing songs that he knew would speak a healing message into someone's current circumstances.
Tambia and I spent an afternoon with him and Dawn and Eli last month during our choral reunion weekend. Byron and Karen Rogers came along, and David Powell, and we went thinking we would sing over Dave. Not 5 seconds into the first verse, I heard his trademark tenor coming from the far end of the couch. A tenor that grew louder as we continued to sing for the next 20 minutes or so. Before the visit ended, Dave was telling us about a prayer he'd read by St. Ignatius recently. As he was reading it, he heard it as a tune...which he proceeded to sing for us, solo. I truly hope there is a recording, somewhere, of this song! [Here.]
I never remember a cross or unkind word passing his lips. Not ever. Even when there was just cause for him to call someone's hand on something. I can say that about very few people. I also don't remember ever seeing him without his trademark smile, even when I knew it wasn't a true reflection of how he felt. David truly lived out the verse in Ephesians that says "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
How we will miss his gentle presence...but what a joy to imagine him singing his heart out right now in the heavenly choir! Sing on, my brother (but save "Angel's Story" till I get there to join in)!
I never remember a cross or unkind word passing his lips. Not ever. Even when there was just cause for him to call someone's hand on something. I can say that about very few people. I also don't remember ever seeing him without his trademark smile, even when I knew it wasn't a true reflection of how he felt. David truly lived out the verse in Ephesians that says "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
How we will miss his gentle presence...but what a joy to imagine him singing his heart out right now in the heavenly choir! Sing on, my brother (but save "Angel's Story" till I get there to join in)!
Catherine Tanner. October 15, 2015.
[David and I] met in Jr. High at Music Camp ... The list of those I met then who have gone on to our their heavenly reward gets longer and longer. Little did we know 45+ years ago the paths we would walk, but I am so grateful for David and others who encouraged me in my faith and who have faced the end of this life with faith and trust in Jesus. I look forward to seeing David at Jesus' feet and singing some harmony with him.
Emma Morman. October 13, 2015.
I met David on a youth retreat when I was in high school. I remember sitting by him at White River, listening to his beautiful voice in front of a campfire! David will always be my dear, kind, gracious friend I could always count on. What a blessing you were to me! What an amazing example of a faithful steward who trusted completely in God’s will for his life.
Lee Towns. October 18, 2015.
I was fortunate enough to work @ Compu-Share for nearly 25 years, and I worked with Dave. What a true Christian man. I will never forget him.