Robert Ray Perkes, 80, of Rexburg, Idaho passed away October 7, 2010, at his home.

He was born November 20, 1929, at Hyde Park, Utah to Clinton and Florence Daines Perkes. He grew up in Hyde Park attending elementary school and graduated from North Cache High School. After high school he attended Utah State University and later received his doctorate degree at the University of California, Riverside.

As a youth he enjoyed spending time hunting, fishing, playing sports and riding his horse in the hills surrounding Hyde Park. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang at many events. He served a mission for the LDS Church to Australia in 1950-1952.

On December 29, 1952 he married Geraldine Fuhriman in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple. The next two years were spent in military service in California and San Antonio, Texas. He worked at Thikol in Utah for 6 years and then returned to school to complete his PhD in Entomology. He took a teaching position in the Biology Department at Ricks College in 1970. There he taught for several years, served as Division Chair, and later Assistant Academic Vice-President for Instruction, and served two brief health missions to Mexico and Guatemala for the Church during the summers of 1972 and 1973.

Some of his favorite activities were camping, traveling with his wife, and spending time with family and later grandchildren touring Yellowstone National Park.

An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he served in many positions, including Branch President, Bishop, and Temple worker in both the Idaho Falls and Rexburg Temples. Many lives were blessed through his service and testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Survivors include his children and their spouses, Debra McGary (Stephen) of Rexburg, Sandra Wilson (James) of Alta, WY, Lynn Perkes (Paige) of Rexburg, and Neil Perkes (Andrea) of Logan, UT; brother-in-law Burnal Hillyard, brothers, Larry Perkes (Diane), Dennis Perkes, and Don Perkes (Judith); 23 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren. His wife Geraldine, his parents, a sister Dixie Hillyard, and grandson Timothy Wilson preceded him in death.

Funeral Services will be Thursday, October 14th at 10:00a.m. at the Crest Haven LDS Ward, 1070 S. Second East. The family will meet friends Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home, 61 N. First East in Rexburg, and Thursday from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Hyde Park Cemetery in Hyde Park, Utah at 3:30 p.m. with military rites by the South Cache American Legion Post 47 and the Utah National Guard. Condolences may be sent to www.flammfh.com