Alan Lile Perry

Alan Lile Perry, 72, of Topeka, Kansas passed away on September 13th, 2026 at his home.

Dad may have aged over the years, but his mind never did. Outwardly he grew older, but inwardly he was always twenty-something. 

Our dad loved music, the classics – The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton - he was classically trained. He loved watching Paul McCartney wave back to the crowd at the “Out There” concert in Kansas City in 2014, but Paul might as well have been only waving at our dad.

Dad loved music and playing guitar, finger-picking tunes out on his electric guitar, “Lucille” until he couldn’t hold her anymore. He talked about how growing up he formed a band with his friends called “Buzz and The After Effects.”

Dad enjoyed watching television shows form his youth: Perry Mason, Leave it to Beaver, and Wagon Train. He loved watching the Royals play and was a die-hard Chiefs fan before it was cool. He loved talking with his friends from his youth, who still lovingly refer to him by his childhood nickname, “Buzz.”

Most of all, he loved God, Jesus Christ, and reading the Bible. His Bible was open to Isaiah 54 at the time of his passing.

Our dad deeply loved our mom, even unto death and missed her deeply. It was so evident that God worked through both of their lives. When people think of a man’s greatness – their wealth, their legacy – it’s evident that greatness is displayed when a man who, despite physical ailments, ignored the pain, pushing carts for $7.25 an hour to help his two children become registered nurses.

He worked for decades as a clerk at Dillon’s in Topeka, Kansas as well as Walmart. Our dad was a member of the Kansas Army National Guard and graduated Advanced Infantry Training as a combat engineer from Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri during the Vietnam War era.

Our dad will always be deeply loved, and missed, and we eagerly look forward to – in sure hope – the day when we will be together again, fully complete, by the grace of God and by faith in His Holy son Jesus Christ.

Our dad graduated from Fort Scott High School class of 1971. He married Mary Catherine “Cathy” Milligan in December 1985.

Our dad is preceded in death by his wife Mary Catherine (Milligan) Perry and his parents, William Lile and Margaret Louise (Cowan) Perry.

He leaves behind his sister Deanna Scott of Harrisonville, Missouri, his brother William (Caroline) Perry of Pittsburg, Kansas, as well as his two children, Alana (Andrew) Cochrane of Topeka, Kansas, and his son Ryan Perry of Topeka, Kansas.

A graveside memorial service will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka, KS 66604. Service day and time are currently pending and will be updated here.

To share a special memory or leave condolences for the family, please visit our guest book below. The family would like to extend their thanks to those who have shared memories and well wishes.