John Lee Perdue

The family and friends of John Lee Perdue are saddened to announce his death in Moses Lake, Wash., where he lived since 1984 in a home that he built with his wife, Mary Lou Cruz, who he married in 1968. Mary Lou preceded him in death in 2007.  

Fulfilling his final wish in life, John was buried in a simple ceremony surrounded by friends and loved ones at Pioneer Memorial Cemetery, where he now rests beside his beloved Mary Lou.  

John is survived by his four children — Christopher Lee, Robert John, Debora Diane and Laura Marie — four brothers — Byron, Ben, Jim and Steve — and his wife of seven years, Jenae Nicholson, as well as Jenae’s two daughters — Erin and Sarah — and their combined eight grandchildren.  

He was also preceded in death by his parents, Henry Lee and Sara (Sally) McClellan Perdue, his parents-in-law, Fausto and Esther Cruz, as well as a younger sister, Diane.

John, who embodied the ethics of hard work and family, led a full and vigorous life. He was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, and graduated high school in Connell, Wash. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 19 and served until 1974 when he was honorably discharged as Petty Officer First Class (E6 — Aviation Structural Mechanic First Class) — a lead flight engineer for the P-3 airplane — having earned commendations for his service in operations in Vietnam and Korea.  

He attended Big Bend Community College, making the Dean’s list on multiple occasions and earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in 1974 with a focus on agricultural sciences and agribusiness.  

For many years, John worked as a farm production manager, chemical equipment operator and agricultural chemist in Eastern Washington, then as a construction estimator and bookkeeper for Cerna Landscape in Kent, Wash. Prior to moving to Moses Lake, while living in Royal City, Wash., and working full time, John served as the volunteer fire and EMT chief and volunteer scout leader.  

It is notable that from 1990-1999, John commuted between Moses Lake and Kent almost every week, and his children remember their excitement with his returns Friday evenings and weekends, which were filled with home maintenance projects, gardening, fishing and other outdoor hobbies. He finally retired around 2007 after several years working in various sales positions and commercial driving. 

John had highly varied personal interests and hobbies, including collecting and restoring handguns and rifles, black powder shooting, boating, fishing, hunting and maintaining vintage farm equipment, which he continued to use up to his final spring. He was particularly proud of his photography skills, which is something he practiced for 60 years, and his ability to maintain an attractive yard and extremely productive garden.  

He is remembered fondly for entertaining his children and niblings with bonfires and fireworks, for taking his family on camping trips and cabin vacations, and in general for having imparted an immeasurably long list of life lessons, useful skills and loving memories.  

Though his presence in our lives is enduring, he will be missed. 

Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at https://bit.ly/JLPERDUE. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.