Collin Co., TX - Obits: Clara Mae Perkins
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Contributed by: Elaine Bay <ebay48@verizon.net>
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Clara Mae Perkins died peacefully at her home in McKinney, Texas early Sunday,
June 29, 2008.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at the First Presbyterian
Church of McKinney at 11:30 AM, Wednesday, July 2, 2008 following a private
graveside service at Pecan Grove Cemetery.

Visitation will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at the Turrentine-Jackson-
Morrow Funeral Home.

Born as Clara Mae James in Pecan Gap, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom W. Perkins, Jr., former Mayor of
McKinney and editor and publisher of the McKinney Courier Gazette; daughter,
Sally Perkins Jeanes, and two grandchildren, Jason Jeanes and Stephen
Marchant.

Clara Mae is survived by her two daughters, Mrs. Clara Marie Marchant of
Richardson, Texas and Mrs. Patty James Perkins Melander of Bowdoinham, Maine;
three sons-in-law, Lt. Col. Joe Marchant, Commander Errol Melander, and John
Jeanes; 10 grandchildren; 15 great- grandchildren and numerous other loving
family members and friends.

Mrs. Perkins is remembered as an active civic leader and for being a proud
active life long democrat. She served as a member of the Texas Democratic
Executive Committee and was a member of the Jeanne d’ Arc Club, the Blue
Bonnet Sewing Club, the McKinney and El Dorado Country Clubs, the Daughters of
the American Revolution, and was a leader in establishing a modern library in
McKinney.

With an active thirst for knowledge, she began college at CIA in Denton, Texas
and later returned to complete her degree at Texas Woman’s University
graduating in 1961. She then taught speech and drama at Caldwell Middle School
after the death of her husband.

Being an active traveler and being the last surviving mother of all her
daughter’s Boyd High School friends, she became "Mom" to all of them and also
to many people around the world.

Her daughters give special thanks to her devoted caregivers, Mrs. Corie Taylor
and Mrs. Marie Brown and to her caring physician, Dr. Billy Boring, Jr., a
former Caldwell student.

Memorials may be made to the McKinney Public Library or to the First
Presbyterian Church, McKinney, Texas.

~ ~ ~ McKinney Gazette, July 1, 2008