Perry James Sanchez

Perry James Sanchez, July 16, 1949–April 12, 2019, slipped away quietly in the peace of slumber, Friday April 12, 2019 following complications from shoulder surgery the previous week.

It was so unexpected as he was looking forward to therapy and then being able to again ride his beloved chestnut-paint horse, Spirit. She has been waiting patiently for him to feel better this last year. That was not to be, it seems.

We are sure he was attended by a flock of angels and his most special, husky doggy, Shasta greeting him in Heaven. In life she had tons of white fluffy fur, a puffy tail and flashing blue eyes. She was Perry’s favorite of the 15 dogs he was proud to have rescued and cared for during his 69 years in this world. He was very sensitive to the cruelty of animals and was the Vice President of Friends of Animal Services in Antioch, California for over 4 years with his Life Partner, Rusty Cuave. They worked together to promote adoptions and save dogs and cats by taking them out into public gatherings in a special animal transport bus that Perry had developed and got funded through various rescue groups in the Bay Area. He loved to see those critters find forever homes that would treat them like he did.

Perry graduated high school in Fremont, California and moved to Hollywood for a few years doing odd jobs. When he returned home he made a bargain with his mom, Connie, that he would settle down with a real job if she would quit drinking. Both kept their promises to each other. He started as a clerk then became the credit manager for a large automotive company, Motor Rim and Wheel, until they went bankrupt. He then was General Manager for two companies owned by the same person. These were WEBSCO Automotive and DSI Sun Roofs, all in San Leandro, California for ten years. Perry then left to start his own business, Model Genie Home Cleaning, with his partner. They provided excellent customer service and care of exclusive family homes in the East Bay Area for about 15 years before moving to Vernon in 2002. Perry took great pride in not only cleaning but arranging the kid’s toys in a funny scene for the delight of the children when they came home to find all their dolls doing a crazy dance or yoga with the Teddy bears. He worked for Cellular One in Customer Service in Show Low for about a year in 2005 as the only male in a large group of ladies that doted on him. Also, Perry spoiled them with gifts of spa & tanning days, special haircuts and treats at the office. He won the admiration of many customers who said he was a “master of customer service” and practiced it beautifully!

Perry is survived by his partner, Rusty Cuave, three brothers: Randy (Sharon) Sanchez, Reno, Nevada; Steven (Maryann) Sanchez, Ione, California; Mark (Cheryl) Sanchez, Fremont, California, and their daughters, his four nieces. Brother Steve was the closest to him and truly his best friend. They have shared the ups and downs of each other’s lives and were always there with love and support through it all. Denise Sanchez Setera in Florida was his favorite niece, who he talked to on the phone for hours.

He was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Connie Sanchez, Fremont, California.

Perry loved to decorate and remodel his home with lots of color, flair and glittery artwork. His favorite shows were Property Brothers and Fixer Upper. He used a lot of ideas gained from those shows to totally remodel and update the Sanchez Family home in Fremont after his parents passed away about six years ago. That big project was his crowning achievement as a designer. He was kind and loving to all that had the pleasure to know him. All of us will miss his crazy stories, which were all true, that he wanted to write down in a book someday. He kept us entertained for hours with wild waving hands and high pitched, karaoke renditions of his favorite singers like Barbara Streisand and Liza Minnelli doing show tunes.

Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Humane Society of the White Mountains.

Perry wanted a private family spreading of his ashes around his home and pet cemetery. No formal funeral is planned at this time.