Bentley Marie (Boren) Perez of Galveston, Texas passed away on November 11, 2024 at the age of 50. 

Bentley was born on March 7, 1974 in Dallas, Texas, to Carol Ely Hopkins and Jarrett H. “Buddy” Boren. After graduating from the Episcopal School of Dallas in 1992, Bentley attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, and received a bachelor’s degree in history in 1997.

Always looking for an adventure, Bentley’s first job out of college took her to Incheon, South Korea where she taught English as a second language to young students. After a year abroad, she returned to Austin and embarked upon a 25 year career in education as an elementary school teacher, academic interventionist and reading specialist in Austin, Del Valle, Round Rock and Texas City ISDs. In August 2003, she was called abroad once again, this time to teach English in Japan for nearly a year. To further her education, Bentley went back to school and received her master’s degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University in 2014.

A natural born entertainer, Bentley went from being the lead in her high school productions to gracing the stage in her adult years as the singer and keyboard player in multiple bands playing country, rock n’ roll and Tejano hits. Her passion for music and dance led her to Esquina Tango where she fell in love with the art of tango and met the love of her life, Carlos. They married on July 14, 2018 in Austin, Texas, and later celebrated the blessing of the rings in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

While she found joy in reading, traveling and music, her greatest joy in life was her son Bennett. They both shared a love of travel and music and enjoyed their special adventures to Isla Mujeres, Mexico.    

Bentley’s favorite pastimes included reading, playing the ukulele and piano, singing, frequenting garage sales in search of the perfect vintage treasure, running a triathlon and numerous marathons, dancing the Argentine Tango with Carlos and spending time with her toes in the sand at the beach. She was always happiest by the water and recently moved from Austin to Galveston where she and Carlos renovated the home of their dreams.

Bentley always lived life as if it were a celebration, finding any occasion to dress up and shower her family and friends with love, generosity and little acts of kindness. She had a true gift for making those around her feel special and loved. Her giving and caring spirit not only impacted her friends and family but the community around her.

Bentley is survived by her son Bennett Chilton Post, her husband Carlos Javier Perez, her mother Carol Ely Hopkins, her brother Jarrett “Rhett” Ely Boren and his children, Mason and McKinley. She was preceded in death by her father, Buddy Boren.

Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston, Texas (2216 Avenue H, Galveston, Texas 77550) on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held in Austin at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Friends of the Rosenberg Library in Galveston or any public library.

Bentley packed a great amount of life into her 50 years. Always dressed to the nines, she lit up a room with her smile and contagious laugh and will be always remembered for her zest for life. She will be deeply missed by all of those whose lives she touched.

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