Katherine Anne Perez

72, of DeSoto, TX passed away August 20, 2023. Katherine Anne (Kathy), was born June 20,1951 in Harlingen, TX. Her father worked for Sears and was soon moved to Carlsbad, NM where they lived for several years. The next transfer was in 1962 to Dallas. After graduating Bishop Dunn High School, she attended the University of Texas at Arlington where she met her husband of 50 years Ernest Perez. Kathy and Ernest were married in Dallas on April 23, 1973 after Ernest had graduated from airborne training. They immediately left for their first assignment at Ft. Ord, CA, just outside of Monterey, CA. For the next 12 years Kathy, who did not like to travel, moved from the west coast to Georgia, North Carolina, the Republic of Panama, Louisiana and a final assignment in North Carolina. She endured frequent absences of her husband and had to fly by herself from Dallas to Panama with three sons all under the age of 5. During a two year period the family moved the household five times. Through it all she provided a stable and loving home. After the service and moving back to Dallas she decided rather than look for a job to help financially, as long as the family could afford it, she would stay home to care for the boys now numbering four. She believed that it was more important to care for and raise them than to provide material things. When grandsons came along Kathy was thrilled to care for (and spoil) them. She provided a rock of stability for the family while Ernest served as a Dallas police officer for 28 years which experienced some troubling times. During all this time while providing a loving stable home she enjoyed quilting and baking. She would bake many types of cookies for Christmas which were in high demand for all family gatherings. When the boys left the nest, Kathy found an outlet for her love of children by helping a good friend Mary Flusche, a Dallas elementary teacher, as a teacher’s aide. She was preceded in death by her father and mother Donald Joseph and Ionalee Nannen; step-mother; Lois Milburn; father and mother-in-law, Joe and Leonora Perez; brother and sister-in-law Gary and Pamela Nannen and four aunts and uncles. She is survived by her husband Ernest Perez; sons; Miguel A. Perez and wife Michele; Jose M. Perez; Tomas D. Perez and wife Helen; and Daniel A. Perez and wife Erica, grandsons; Donovan and Jacob Perez; and adopted daughter-in-law, Laura Wick, and nieces and nephew; Stacy Stallings, Lindsay Marion and Josh Nannen along with several cousins. The family will receive friends at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1537 Rogers Rd., Lancaster, TX 75134 on Wednesday - September 06, 2023 from 10:30 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at which time the Mass of Christian Burial will begin with Father Joseph Trinh, Celebrant. Interment will follow in the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, TX (all on the same day). The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials or donations be made in Kathy's name to either the church or the Southwest Indian Foundation at www.southwestindian.com