my $current_focus = 0; #widget that is currently in focus
...

#main window bindings
$main_window->bind( '<ButtonPress>'=> \&button_press);		
...

#text widget class bindings (9 x 9 = 81 text widgets)
$text_widget->bind($text_class, '<FocusOut>'=> \&focus_out);	$text_widget->bind($text_class, '<FocusIn>' => \&focus_in);
...  
 
#get focus on a cell - save the widget to be processed by button_press later if a button is pressed    
sub focus_in {	
    my($widget) = @_;
    $current_focus = $widget; #stash it away
}

#generate a fake focus_out on a cell when a button is pressed
sub button_press {					
    if ($current_focus ) {
        focus_out($current_focus); #fake a missing <FocusOut> event
    }
}

#lose focus on a cell - update master data and redraw cell/screen
sub focus_out {						
    my($widget) = @_;
    my $e = $widget->XEvent; # get event object
    
    # do stuff here...
    
    $current_focus = 0;	#there is no current focus right now.  <FocusIn> will create a new one...
    return 0;
}