— Beatrice “Bea” (Hefner) Perry was born December 14, 1927 in Wagoner, Oklahoma to Eddie Lee and Vicy Jane (Accord) Hefner. Bea was a lifelong member of the Wagoner First Presbyterian Church. Along with her first husband, Frank Spence, Bea owned and managed the Wagoner Tribune and Record Democrat. She was an acclaimed journalist and received many awards for her work. She always had a great interest in history and people that was demonstrated by her life’s work in journalism and travel. Bea was the founder and owner of Travel Tours, a travel company she built from the ground up with great success. Bea loved to travel. She and her husband, Don Perry, whom she married in 1984, worked together in the business and continued travelling after their retirement. Don will always hold dear his memories of their adventures together. In later years Bea and Don enjoyed spending much of the winter in Arizona, where they made many friends. Bea was a member of both Study Club Unlimited and P.E.O. in Wagoner for many years. Her friendships through those organizations and her church will always be cherished. 

Bea departed this life late Wednesday, March 20, 2013 in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Linda Wofford; her first husband, Frank Spence; two brothers, William “Bud” Hefner and James Hefner; three sisters, Pauline Wilson, Dorothy Foster and Millie Metts. She is survived by her husband, Don Perry, of Wagoner; a brother, Eddie Hefner and his wife, Helen, of Wagoner; two grandsons and their wives, Brad and Rachel Wofford of Wagoner and Matt and Pamela Wofford of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Dylan, Michael, Evan, Amber, Matthew, Rhiannon, Trent and Ashton; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends. 

A Visitation will be held on Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church in Wagoner. The Reverend Leigh McCaslin will officiate. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Wagoner. Online condolences may be left at www.mallettfuneralhome.

com.