Cathy Eaton, mother of Perry Eaton (BDCwire)

Perry’s been a “rocker” since his very early days. He got a keyboard for his second birthday, which he would play—Jerry Lee Lewis style—day and night. He wore his signature cowboy hat and tickled the electric ivories to our delight (or headaches, depending on how the day had gone). Ask him to play “When the Saints go Marching In” sometime.

Perry lives his life with courage, compassion and kindness. He has a wonderful sense of humor, an abundance of loyalty for family and friends, and a true gift with children. A kid at heart, Perry has been a hero to hundreds of campers at Chickami. After long days at work, he still finds time to mentor teens at the Newton Y. Both Perry and his sister Brooke, make me a proud mother every day.