Richard J. Perrett, 70

Richard (Dick) James Perrett was born July 10, 1953 in Valentine, to Bob and Betty (Moorehouse) Perrett. On September 15, 2023, Richard passed away in his home in Rio Vista, TX with his family supporting him. He was 70 years old.

He was raised in the Sandhills of Cherry County. A county boasting more cattle than people in population. He was fortunate to be able to attend his early grade school years at a one room country school, to which he proudly rode his pony on occasion. Horses and cattle would be central part of his life. While he wasn’t known to be a very sentimental man, his regard and respect for his horses was legendary. He once traveled 800 miles to retrieve the body of his high school rope horse he raised and trained, to bury him on a scenic overlook of the Brazos River in Texas.

Dick graduated from Kansas State University in 1977. There he met his first wife Cindy Lauritzen. After graduation and marriage Dick and Cindy spent several years working for various ranches, doing AI and embryo transplant work. His fondest memories were of riding his favorite horses in beautiful country at the ranches where he worked. Their favorites included Pruett Ray in Arizona, and Leachman’s in Billings, MT.

They had two daughters, Jayme and Lexie before moving to Texas to work for Cow Creek Ranch at Kimball Bend, TX in 1991.

In 1998 Dick married his second wife Julie Couzynes and had his third child, a son, Cooper. After 10 years of work at Cow Creek, he retired from ranching.

Dick would work as a dozer operator and manage both road construction and gas well sites for several years to come. After fully retiring, he spent the last several years with various hobbies including a deep interest in reloading, hunting and traveling for long trips back to the old family ranch in Nebraska.

Dick was preceded in death by his father Robert Perrett Sr., brother Robert Perrett Jr., and nephew Robert Perrett III and his best horses Card One “Goober.” He shares his death date with his belove nephew “Bobby” Perrett.

Dick is survived by his mother Betty Perrett; sisters, Jeannie Schelhaas and Barb Moosman; three children, daughters Jayme Long, Lexie Perrett and son, Cooper Perrett; five grandchildren, Landon and Riley Long, Skyler White, Breslyn Towles, and Gabe Brumley; two pleasantly plump Aussie mutts Sidney and Cookie and an independent cat named Cat.

Dick will be missed by those who loved him and got to work closely with him. He was known for his wit, sarcasm, work ethic and an old school knowledge of how to do a little bit of everything learned over a lifetime.

A memorial was held Monday October 23, 2023, at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine. Together, his family will spread a portion of his ashes at the family ranch.

Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was in charge of service arrangements.