Charles Sidney “Sid” Perry, age 73, and a lifelong resident of Hoquiam, passed on June 19, 2019, in Elma, Washington, from complications of Agent Orange exposure. Mr. Perry was born on Dec. 3, 1945, in Renton, Washington, to Charles Henry and Edith Lorraine (Simmons) Perry. The family moved to Hoquiam in 1946 and remained until moving to Myrtle Creek, Oregon, in 1951. In his junior year of high school, he returned to Hoquiam and graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1965, where he resided until 2016.

While in high school, Sid worked for Grays Harbor Veneer. After graduation, he began working as a log truck driver for F.G. Peterson. He entered the U.S. Navy on Jan. 10, 1966, where he served aboard the U.S.S. Ozbourn during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 16, 1967. Upon his return to Hoquiam he continued to drive log truck for F.G. Peterson where he could enjoy the outdoors. Due to Sid’s large stature and being 6’8” his call sign was “Baby Huey”. If you commented on his height he would always joke his work boots made him look that tall. Upon the company’s closure he worked for Byron Brothers and J.B. Leonard until taking a medical retirement in 1990. He drove log truck for over 24 years and was known by many.

On April 30, 1976, he and Caroline E. Henkel were married in Aberdeen. She survives at the family home in Elma.

Sid loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing (even though he had the horrible “Perry Curse”), clam digging and camping with the family. He was a Little League and T-Ball coach for all three of his children. Many of the kids thought he looked like Abe Lincoln due to his height and facial hair. Additionally he also volunteered many hours with Little League, was a volunteer firefighter in Copalis Crossing, worked for two summers as a youth supervisor for youth crews in the Amanda Park area, drove bus for the Grays Harbor Rain and was a member of the VFW of Potlatch, Idaho. Sid loved watching his kids’ and grandkids’ events, including go-kart racing, multiple sports, theater, and dance.

In his retirement, Sid, Caroline and their dog, Bear, traveled with their 5th wheel trailer throughout the United States to enjoy what the outdoors had to offer taking in as much as possible.

Preceding him in passing were his mother and father, a brother, James Perry and a sister, Linda Henkel.

In addition to his wife, Caroline, surviving relatives include a son, Curtis Franklin Perry (Melissa Thompson) of Montesano; two daughters, Jennifer Lynn Swogger (Robert) of Raymond and Sylvia Marie Perry of Tacoma; Sid’s eight grandchildren, Tyson Sid Perry “TSP”, Jordan Perry, Sidney Swogger, Caton Swogger, Joslynn Swogger, Johnnie Prentice IV, Lana Lewis and Lily Lewis. Sid was also a foster parent to numerous children.

He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband and father.

Cremation arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary in Hoquiam. An urn committal with military honors will be at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2019, at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.

Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on-line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.