Perry Burgess Matthews

Perry Burgess Matthews was born January 9, 1948 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Burgess Stanley and Dorothy Jean Matthews. He spent his childhood with sister Blaire and brother Rodney in Tulsa, then Hingham, Massachusetts, until the family moved to Branford, Connecticut in the summer of 1963 where he met his one true love, Meta Joy Black. They were married Oct 9, 1971 surrounded by beautiful gardens at her parents' house. Perry and Meta had three children, Bryce, Eric, and Tracy.

Perry graduated from Branford High in 1966 and went on to attend the University of New Mexico, graduating with an Engineering degree. After graduation he worked for Grinnell in the Fire Protection Division. He started his own firm, Burgess Fire Protection Engineers, in 1981. He designed fire sprinkler plans for the Colorado State Capital building, the Montana State Capital building, numerous federal facilities, and plenty of condos and hotels in mountain ski resorts. He retired in 2010.

In his free time, he enjoyed camping, sailing and travelling. He was an Eagle Scout and helped guide his sons and others through the journey to Eagle as Scoutmaster for Troop 10 in Westminster. Many family roadtrips included camping at Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, and Bryce Canyon.

Perry was a natural sailor. He started sailing as a teen in New England, as an adult competitively racing in New England, Colorado, California, Alabama, and Florida. Along the way he taught his wife and children. It was only natural he would end up with a home on the water.

Perry traveled the world with his family, then with Meta, and later in life with his adult children and young grandchildren. He sailed the Nile, went on safari in Africa, tried on suits of armor in England, chartered a yacht in the Virgin Islands, saw the tulips bloom in Holland, visited the Great Wall, climbed Machu Picchu, and saw the Northern Lights. He won $200 at the Kentucky Derby betting on a horse with the same name as his granddaughter, swam with dolphins, caught salmon in Alaska, saw the Bolshoi Ballet at the Kennedy Center, drove a horse-drawn gypsy wagon in Ireland, got lost in Venice, and bought a bespoke suit in Korea. He luau'd in Hawaii, rafted in Costa Rica, sailed the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, did laundry in Paris, spent many Mardis Gras throwing beads from the KOER float in Fairhope, AL, and swam in many oceans, rivers and lakes, among many other adventures. He lived life to its very fullest, experiencing as many cultures, activities, places, and opportunities as possible.

Perry was a connoisseur of beauty, be it a flower, an automobile, a sunset. He frequently attended the ballet, opera, symphony, and theatre. He supported Very Special Arts in Colorado, purchasing many pieces created there. He enjoyed the Loveland Sculpture Show, took cooking classes on his travels, and kayaked and had wine parties with his friends. Just as much, he loved a funny greeting card, colored pictures from his grandchildren, the tv show Monk, and simple visits with friends and family.

Perry joins his beloved wife Meta, and all his family who have gone before him, in Heaven. He is survived by his brother Rodney and sister-in-law Karen, their children and grandchildren; his sister Blaire's children and grandchildren; and his son Bryce and wife Rhonda, son Eric and wife Shannon, and daughter Tracy and husband Kenny. His five grandchildren couldn't have asked for a better grandpa.

Services will be held on Oct 5, 2019 at 11AM at Northglenn United Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, donations to your favorite local arts program would be appreciated.

Please share your memories of Perry and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.

Funeral Service: October 5, 2019 11:00 am

Northglenn United Church of Christ
10500 Grant Drive
Northglenn, Colorado 80233
(303) 451-6655
http://www.northglennunitedchurch.org/