Shirley M Perkins

Shirley M Perkins

Shirley M Perkins 89 of Des Moines, formerly of Fort Dodge died Sunday, May 05, 2013 in Des Moines. Funeral Services will be Friday 11:00 am at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge. Interment will be in North Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday 5-7 at the Celebration Room at Friendship Haven. The Historic Bruce Funeral Home assisted family with arrangements.

Shirley Marie Jervis Perkins was born June 1, 1923 in Des Moines, Iowa to John and Edna (Keating) Jervis. She graduated from East High School in Des Moines in 1941 and attended State Teacher College. She worked for United Airlines from 1942-43 in San Francisco and Denver as Plane to Ground Communications. She then worked for several government agencies in 1944 and volunteered for USO in Des Moines. She served in the United States Navy during WWII and was discharged in Feb 1945. Shirley worked for the Omaha Council of Camp Fire Girls from March 1945 – Sept 1946.

Shirley was united in marriage to Donald Perkins on September 29, 1946 and to this union three children were born; Craig, Bruce, and Nancy. The family moved to Fort Dodge in 1948. She organized the Coop Preschool in 1952 which is still active today. She was a realtor 1983-1984 and then worked as the Director of the Y.W.C.A. for a year. She served as a Cub Scout Den Mother 1955-1958 and Leader for the Camp Fire Girls group from 1950-1953 and again from 1962-1973. Shirley also served on the Board of the Camp Fire Girls. She was a member of the Fort Dodge Womens Club where she served as president. She was a member of Webster County Red Cross for 32 years serving as its chairman from 1976-1979.

She also served on the Iowa Red Cross from 1979-1981. She served on the Fort Dodge YWCA Board and served as president. Shirley served on the Board of Directors at Friendship Haven for 17 years. She was a mentor at Fair Oaks Middle School, Duncombe, Cooper and Butler Schools. She was a volunteer for Blood Bank of Iowa. She was a tour guide at the Fort Dodge Museum. She with three other women, began the Friends of the Library. Shirley was a member of the United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School served as youth counselor for M.Y.F. and served on the board.

She also headed the library committee for six years. She was a member the Council of Churches , sponsored and chaperoned youth Coffee House. She was a member of Interfaith. Other organizations she belonged to throughout the years included TTT, Questers, This and That Club, Forum Club and Book Club. After her husbands death in 2011 she moved to Des Moines. On May 5, 2013 Shirley Marie Perkins died at Ramsey Village in Des Moines.

She is survived by her children; D. Craig (Patricia) Perkins of Houston, TX, Bruce (Kay) Perkins of Ontonagon, MI, and Nancy Perkins of West Des Moines, IA. five grandchildren; Brad, Aaron, Alyssa, Megan, and Wesley, and five great grandchildren; Whitney, Daniel, Zoe, Ava, and Jayden.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Online condolences can be sent to brucesfuneralhome.com

Bruce-Graham Funeral Home