Betty Lou Mahoney Perry

Betty Lou Mahoney Perry passed away peacefully Thursday, September 23, 2021 in Gilmer, Tx. She was born in Chicago, IL on July 1, 1937 and lived much of her young life in Kentucky. At 18 she left home to live in California. She returned to Kentucky and worked for the Government as a bookkeeper and retired nearly 50 years ago. Gamma was no ordinary grandma. She was widowed 35 years ago. In lieu of having a home and being stationary, she chose, the vast majority of time, to be a wanderer and travel via bus, taxi, horse, mule, bicycle, zipline, plane, train, jet, cruise ship, truck, car and motorhome and see more than most people will ever see. Betty was the epitome of van/camper life. She has been to all 50 states multiple times and would cross the country at least 5-6 times a year traveling from Florida to Montana to Texas to Washington to Nevada to New York to Kentucky and everywhere in between. She also has been through most of Canada and traveled to Germany, France, Netherlands, Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cayman, Belize, Mexico, Bahamas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. Betty loved her faith in her Heavenly Father. She loved America, the national parks, the landscape and getting to meet people. She loved animals, car shows and air shows especially when the Navy Blue Angels were there.

Betty's catchphrase when she was happy and excited about something was 'whoopie-doodle'! She was a big fan of University of Kentucky basketball. She would find a place to watch them no matter where she was. If Betty was on the road, and she usually was, it made her happy. The roads of America were her home.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents Louise and Earl Mahoney, her husband, John Perry, her daughter, Diane Tierney and her brother, Earl Mahoney Jr. Betty is survived by her sister, Shirley Lyons, her son, Robert Perry (and Shelley), her grandchildren Kelly Tierney (and Yoran), Kyle Tierney, Sarah Mullen, Belen, Maya, Alejandra, Iliana, Marisol Perry, and 3 great grandchildren, DraVontea, Annalyn and Elizabeth and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

She will be buried in Florida National Cemetery near her daughter Diane.