Paul Eric Perona

Paul Eric Perona, age 53, died on November 16, 2018, in Prescott, Arizona, as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

Born January 14th, 1965, in Junction City, Kansas, to parents John and Karlene; Paul had a gregarious personality, a HUGE sense of humor, and a sense for adventure that would permeate through the whole of his life.

Paul spent his childhood years in the Phoenix area, chasing adventure and regularly testing, and often finding, the limits from the seat of his bicycle, a discarded countertop, or anything else that would let him slide down a mountain fast.

During Paul’s teenage years the family moved to El Paso, Texas, where he would go on to graduate from high school and enlist in the U.S. Air Force where he served honorably as a Security Specialist. After completing his service, Paul put his USAF training to good use, accepting a position with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Sheridan, Oregon, where he worked for 24 years, retiring with outstanding reviews as a Senior Correctional Officer.

Never one to sit idle, in 2015, Paul accepted a position with the State of Oregon court systems language services. In late 2018, Paul retired from the State of Oregon and relocated to Prescott, Arizona with the hopes of spending more time with family, friends, and his horses.

Always a “cowboy at heart”, Paul’s love for horses was instilled at an early age with a rocking horse his great-uncle Ken made for him when he was just a toddler, and further bolstered by his aunt Rebecca, who would regularly take him riding at a local stable. In recent years, Paul took his love of horses and competition and began participating in the sport of mounted shooting. It wasn’t long before Paul and his horse, Gus, were winning events and amassing a trophy case of belt buckles. In addition to competing, Paul joined the Oregon Mounted Shooting Association, for which he was active President for three years.

From mounted shooting, to dirt bikes, to the years he spent as part of the race crew with the APS Race Team, Paul’s passions were always reflective of his sense of adventure and fun. He always found joy in an active lifestyle and making others laugh. His outgoing, welcoming, and inquisitive personality and over the top hugs will be very sorely missed.

Paul is preceded in death by his mother, Karlene L. Perona, grandparents, and Aunt Karen.

He is survived by his father, John B. Perona, his brother, John K. Perona, his daughter, Erica R. Marquez, his son Stephen T. Perona, two grandsons, three nephews, three aunts and two uncles. Services have yet to be determined, but his ashes will be interred near his mother’s grave in Phoenix.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to any of the following causes:

https://www.ccalliance.org/
http://www.3sistersequine.com/
https://www.pawswithacause.org/
https://www.diamondjcowboy.com/