Efren Perez April 16, 1926 – February 07, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card There was once a proud couple, Emilia (Barrera) and Jose Perez, living in the high desert town of Mier, Mexico, who gave rise to large, loving family of three boys, Elpidio, Efren, and Edmundo, and two girls, Laura and Emilia. Born in his mother’s hometown on April 16, 1926, Efren was introduced to a time between World Wars, became a boy during the Great Depression, fought in two horrific, cataclysmic wars, raised his own family at the start of the Space Age, saw a new millennium blossom with hope, and ended his journey on February 7, 2019 surrounded by what was most important to him throughout his life – his family. Efren was born not long after the Mexican Revolution ended, which brought massive changes to the lives of farmers and ranchers throughout Mexico.
Although reforms made shortly before his birth brought land reform to millions of peasants, the upheaval created by the Revolution, and its aftermath, sent many north to the United States to escape. Since his father, Jose, was a U.S. citizen, travel back and forth across the border was possible. It was there, in south Texas, where the teenaged Efren enlisted in the regular Army and began a worldwide tour lasting over 25 years.
While stationed at Fort Ord in California, Efren married Janice Ramsey, and they proudly greeted their first two children, Edward and Elena. As postings changed, the challenge of raising a military family took them to Fort Riley, Kansas, where Efren and Janice’s son, Michael was born. Globetrotting in earnest throughout the 1950s, son Thomas, and daughter Janice were born while Efren and Janice enjoyed a peaceful, bucolic posting in France (at least as peaceful as possible with five children under the age of six).
Returning to the states at the end of the decade, sons Robert and Steven were born after Efren’s last transfer to Fort Lewis, Washington. As the family home became settled in Tacoma, Patrick was born, and within a couple of years, Efren retired from the U.S. Army, having served twenty years. After retirement from the Army, and while working for Boeing, Efren began classes studying computing in the early adoption period for computers in the corporate world.
Those classes led to his second, long career as a systems analyst at PACCAR, gaining many life time friendships along the way. As the sixties gave way to the seventies, Efren’s first marriage to Janice dissolved and he married Louise Beckman DeWeese. Their marriage soon produced another daughter, Emilia.
Efren retired from PACCAR after thirty years. Retirement kept Efren immensely busy working on projects around the house, mowing the lawn, “reading” the newspaper, resting his eyes, but most of all running errands where he could visit his extensive network of friends throughout the area. He regularly, and coincidentally, certainly, met his friends at any Mexican restaurant nearby, at one point driving sixty miles round trip each month for meals with his former work companions.
His most frequently visited contingent of friends were the workers at the 38th St. Costco’s snack bar for his nearly daily trips for his Polish dog (with two sauerkrauts,) Diet Coke (no ice) and an audience where he was comfortable with all. During his youth, Efren developed a strong bond with people working in fields, under intolerable conditions, sweating, toiling, struggling to build and maintain their families. He instilled the recognition in his offspring of the dignity and worth of all people.
He brought his values of sharing, caring, and empathy for others throughout his life and through his teachings to his children. Efren was extremely charismatic. His smile sparkled around others, and his easy humor, light laugh, and boisterous voice captured the rooms around him at every occasion.
His wisdom was always meted out in small, subtle messages, usually advising constancy, patience, and moderation. Throughout his life, Efren endured discrimination and racism but he did not succumb. His head was never less than straight up, chin out, and proud for who he was, where he came from, and the legacy he left behind in his family.
The family would like to thank all of the staff, doctors, and social workers at the Washington Veterans Home in Retsil, Washington, for the wonderful home, companions, and care provided to Efren these last several years. Their professionalism and commitment to the honorable Veterans of our country is nothing short of amazing. Efren was predeceased by his dear mother Emilia, father Jose, sisters Laura and Emilia, brother Elpidio, and son Michael.
He will be missed deeply by his children Edward, Elena, Thomas, Janice, Robert, Steven, Patrick, and Emilia. He will be remembered fondly by his grandchildren and great grandchildren Cecilia, Jesse, Lindley, Monica, Evan, Maureen, Jane, Jacob, Aaron, Tucker, Lilly, Maya, Elycia, Sebastian Jr., William, Clara, Baxter, Townes, Fiona, Neve, Caroline, and Theodore. Efren is also survived by his brother Edmundo, and his brother’s wife, Nereida, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins in Texas and Mexico.
Funeral ceremonies with Full Military Honors will be held Monday, March 11, 2019 at 10:30am at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA. A private party, at Efren’s insistence, will be held on Sunday, March 10th, 2019 at 1pm. Contact family for details.
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