Kerry Wesley Page

Kerry W. Page, 81, a Wenatchee resident for over 60 years and longtime owner of Kerry's Body Shop, Wenatchee, passed away Tuesday night, September 6, 2016 (yes, his birthday) at Wenatchee Valley Clinic Hospital due to Multiple Myeloma (bone/blood cancer) and a Pneumonia that would not respond to antibiotics. He was born on September 6, 1935 at Cushman, Arkansas to the late John Wesley and Ona (Blue) Page. He was raised and received his early education in Cushman, before entering the workforce. Emancipated at an early age, Kerry worked in the chicken processing industry and the cotton fields at the age of 11 years. At age 14, he traveled to Florida to work the orange harvest and at age 16, he moved to Wenatchee to work in the orchards. Subsequently, Kerry found employment at North Central Chevrolet in Wenatchee, which provided the foundation for his lifelong vocation. Kerry worked at a few different positions before finding himself in the auto-body shop. He later went to work for Don Carstensen, Don's Body Shop, where Don 'schooled' Kerry in the auto-body fender industry. In 1963, he bought out Pete's Body Shop in Wenatchee and changed the name to Kerry's Body Shop. He met Linda L. Foldoe and they were later married on January 28, 1967 in Wenatchee. They made their home together in Wenatchee, raised their family, and worked together as a strong business team at the body shop, with Kerry in the shop and Linda in the office. When the auto-body repair industry began to transition to Unibody cars, it was either learn how to fix them correctly or cease doing business. Kerry took on this new challenge and received training in Unibody repairs, becoming an IICAR Certified Unibody Specialist, also attaining instructor status to provide on-going training for collision techs on the west side of Washington State. Kerry retired on October 31, 2006 after 43 successful years, closing his business, and selling his commercial property; he and his wife have since continued to make their home in Wenatchee. Kerry was a former longtime Scoutmaster for Boy Scouts, Troop 18 in Wenatchee. He was an avid NASCAR fan and particularly a Dale Earnhardt Sr. fan. He made the trip to the Daytona 500 twice, enjoying not only watching his favorite driver, but also spending time on pit road for meet and greet opportunities with the drivers. He was a local racing fan, instrumental in helping Ed Gantz build and open the race track in East Wenatchee. Kerry was the 'Pit Boss' at the raceway in East Wenatchee for several years, subsequently being honored by Wenatchee Valley Super Oval with a lifetime pass. He loved and enjoyed his Dachshunds, going fishing, flower and vegetable gardening, old western movies, watching the Apple Sox and Mariners Baseball and going for walks on the loop trail. Kerry is survived by his wife, Linda L. Page, Wenatchee; four sons, Gary Page, Dryden, David & (Roxie) Page, Gordon & (Pam) Page, and Danny Page all of Wenatchee; and one daughter, Kari Ann Page (fiancé Marc Willy), Wenatchee; 9 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and 4 half-sisters. Kerry was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, three sisters, and three half-sisters. A Graveside Inurnment service will be held in the Wenatchee City Cemetery on Western Ave. on September 9th, 2016 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Stephen Larson, Emeritus, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, officiating. Immediately following graveside services, please join us at Rotary Park, corner of Western Ave and Maple Street to visit and share memories. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee. You are invited to visit his online tribute at www.heritagememorialchapel.com and leave a memory for the family.

Kerry Wesley Page

September 6, 1935 - September 6, 2016