Arthur Charles Emerson Perry

Arthur Charles Emerson Perry - known as "Boots" during his youth and "Ace" during his military career - passed away on Friday January 26, 2018. Born on 8/18/1941, he was married for 55 years to high school sweetheart Veronica "Roni" Perry who pre-deceased him in 2016. ROTC at Rogers High School prepared him for a 22-year Navy career. He served in-country in Vietnam as a "River Rat" in Da Nang. Arthur was a member of St. John's Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, all four branches of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, American Legion Post 18 and the Turtle Club. The affiliation of which he was most proud was his membership in the Prestigious Artillery Company of Newport allowing him to don the uniform of the toy soldiers he so loved.Sr. Chief Perry inflicted his quirky sense of humor on any captive audience. An avid reader and life-long student of military history, he collected toy soldiers and postcards browsing yard sales, antique stores and flea markets in search of treasures.He is survived by his daughters Christine Hayward and Stephanie Perry Skriptshak; grandsons Brian Beck and Kevin Beck; his twin sister Ann "Cookie" Chesser and other siblings Joan Robinson, Billy Perry and Ricky Perry; companion Patti Toppa; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.At his request, services are omitted. Art will be interred, with full military honors, at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, RI at a later date. In the summer, family and friends will gather to retell his bad jokes while enjoying his "secret" stuffies recipe. Suggested donations in his memory to "Dare to Dream Ranch," an equine therapy program for veterans (www.daretodreamranch.org). A cartoon and humor aficionado, Art would appreciate this saying from a Looney Tunes character: "Th Th That's all folks!" Cemetery Details RI Veteran's Memorial Cemetery Exeter, RI,