Fred Perez, 72, of Lafayette, passed away unexpectedly on Friday-August 25, 2023, at 3:08pm, at Franciscan Health Indianapolis, where he had been a patient for the last 12 days. He was born on April 29, 1951, in San Bernardino, CA, to the late Luis & Delores "Lola" Diaz Perez. His marriage was to Sharon J. Floyd, in Las Vegas, NV, on September 27, 1980, and she survives. He graduated from Fontana High School in 1969, in Fontana, CA. While living there, he worked at the Fontana Bird Farm. While living in Lafayette, he worked for Purdue University in West Lafayette, on the ground crew for 7 years, and then at ALCOA in Lafayette for 6 years. In his younger years he enjoyed playing football & basketball. He also loved the theater. He was in many plays, and loved to sing and entertain, and had several lead roles. No matter where he lived, he always made friends quickly with his neighbors. Always lending a helping hand or sharing the fresh produce he would raise in his garden. He could build anything and was an eternal tinkerer. If he had a project to do but wasn't sure how to do it. He would educate himself, tackle the project, and complete it like a pro. He enjoyed cooking and more importantly sharing it with his family & friends and hoping to score a jar of his famous salsa. He and his wife liked to travel, and even find a casino along the way. Fred had a great sense of humor, and enjoyed making people laugh. Whether by a joke or one of the many funny T-shirts he would wear. Family was everything to Fred. He enjoyed going to and supporting his grandchildren in their school & sporting functions. Always in the stands rooting them on and ringing his cowbell loud and proud for all to hear. His son said it best; the eternal echoes, the laughter and smiles created by Fred. A stranger to no one and a friend to everyone who crossed his path. Fred was the sunshine on your cloudy day, the shoulder to lean on when you weren't strong, the heartbeat and life to social gatherings, and he touched far too many souls to ever allow his legacy to drift away from our memories. The world lost one of its brightest gems, and we were fortunate enough to call him Dad. Surviving: wife-Sharon Perez of Lafayette, daughter-Melissa & Jason Walters of Lafayette, daughter-Pamela Downey of West Lafayette, son-Del & Evelyn Downey of Temecula, CA, sister-Anna & Gustavo Perez of Yucaipa, CA, son-Mark Downey of Costa Rica, 11 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, extended family: Cindy & Dave Goodin, Marsha & John Stoner, Cindy & Barry Lawson, Becky Floyd, Karen Mohler, & Mike Floyd. Preceded in death by brother in law's Robert Floyd & William Mohler, sister-in-law Kathy Ingmire, a niece Sandra Perez, & a nephew Andrew Perez. Services: Visitation Tuesday from 10:30am until his funeral service at 12:30pm at Abbott Funeral Home, Inc., Delphi. Rev. Ed Selvidge officiating. Burial at IOOF Memorial Gardens, Pittsburg. To view his obit or send an online condolence to the family, visit: www.abbottfuneralhome.com