Franklin Jay Perdue

Franklin Jay Perdue, 65 of Cardinal Street of Bluefield, Virginia formerly of Welch, West Virginia passed away on Thursday, May 08, 2014 at his residence. Jay was born on July 05, 1948 in Premier, West Virginia to the late Dennis W. and Margie Worrell Perdue. He had been a resident of Bluefield, Virginia for the past 15 years. Jay graduated from Welch High School in 1966, where he excelled in basketball. Jay attended Manatee Junior College in Bradenton, Florida on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1968. He worked at H.C. Lewis Oil Company in Welch and then continued his college career – receiving his B.A. from Bluefield Sate College and his M.A. from Marshall University Graduate School. Jay taught special education at Tazewell High School and retired in 2008. He was an avid golfer in his younger years and had a lifelong love of reading. In addition to his parents, Jay was preceded in death by one brother, Dennis Ray Perdue. Jay is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Mary Kathryn Clark Perdue of the home, his son Jason Clark Perdue of Arlington, Virginia, his daughter Carrie Anne Perdue of Cambridge, Massachusetts, his sister Mary Beth Rivers and her husband HJ of Silver Spring, Florida. Additionally, he leaves behind many additional cherished family and friends including, his brother-in-law Oren P. Clark and wife Mary Frances of Princeton, West Virginia; his nieces Jessica Clark of Seattle, Washington and Carmella Clark of Charleston, West Virginia; his brother-in-law William Clark of Welch, West Virginia; his niece Kim Perdue Palmieri and her husband Steve and children, Anthony and Tommy of Plantation, Florida; his nephew Bryan Rivers and his wife Kristi of Pleasanton, California; his sister-in-law, Beverly James of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; his beloved aunt, Josie Jones of Welch, West Virginia; and special life-long friends John Stafford III, of Pompano Beach, Florida, John L. Oblinger of Barboursville, West Virginia and Carolyn Rhudy Bullion of Franklin, Tennessee. He also leaves behind his cat Luther and grandpuppy, Jenkins. Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 11, 2014 at Woodlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum in Bluewell, West Virginia at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Russ Hatfield officiating the service. Those wishing to attend the serve are asked to meet at Woodlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. The Perdue family will receive friends on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Cravens-Shires Funeral Home in Bluefield (Bluewell), West Virginia from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Tazewell County Library (Bluefield, VA Branch) or the McDowell County Library in Welch, WV.