Ronald Steven Perry, “Steve” to his friends and family, spent 40 years in service to his community. Sadly, he contracted COVID-19 while on a call and lost his fight on December 17, 2020.
Steve was married and had three stepchildren, two girls and one boy. He also had an adopted son, four grandsons, and one granddaughter, all of whom he enjoyed spending time with. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed watching the Tennessee Vols and Titans football and the Atlanta Braves whenever he could.
He loved being a volunteer firefighter with East Sullivan County Fire Department, where he put in ten years of service. He was their engineer and served as the training officer.
At the time of his passing, Steve was employed by Sullivan County EMA, where he was captain over the Rescue Division. The knowledge and skills he gained in his younger years with the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Division and the Bluff City (Tennessee) Junior Rescue Squad allowed him to excel in the EMT field while working at Sullivan County EMA and the Kingsport Life Saving Crew.
Steve loved teaching classes and wanted everyone he taught to succeed in the first responder/EMT field. He had several certifications that allowed him to teach, including EVOC, Swift Water Rescue, Vehicle Extrication, CPR and First Responder classes.
Steve departed this life while assisting others, which is what he was best at. Knowing he died while in the service of others has brought a great deal of comfort to his family and friends.
Steve was my mentor in the medical field. He showed patience and never gave up on me and always showed faith and trust in me. More importantly Steve was a friend he was always there to lend a ear or give advice.He got got shook up and never lost his cool. Steve will always be missed but most importantly will be remembered for his passion for teaching.
– Chris Poulin