ORRINGTON and HANOVER – Joyce Fern Perkins, 63, died peacefully March 15, 2011, surrounded by her loving family at her beloved home on Brewer Lake. She was born Aug. 13, 1947, in Bar Harbor, daughter of Halsen E. and Ola (Gillie) Mitchell.
Joyce graduated in the top of her class from Brewer High School, and fell in love with her soul mate, Jerry Perkins.
Joyce and Jerry married March 5, 1966, and recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. She worked full-time, lovingly raised two children, ran the Perkins household, yet still managed to earn degrees in business administration and education from Husson College in 1987. After moving to western Maine in 1967, Joyce served as the administrative assistant at Rumford Community Hospital for 20 years before applying her advanced degree to teaching business at Dirigo, Telstar and Mountain Valley high schools for 14 years. After retirement, Joyce returned to the Brewer area, where she helped design and landscape her and Jerry’s dream home on Brewer Lake.
Joyce will be remembered by her family, friends, colleagues and students for her quick wit, sense of humor and generosity of spirit. She loved visiting with her children and grandchildren, downhill and cross-country skiing in western Maine and around Brewer Lake, as well as hiking and camping. Joyce loved tending to her landscaping and flowers at the lake and long walks at the beach. She became increasingly active in cancer fighting organizations in the Bangor area and was a proud member of First United Methodist Church of Orrington.
She is survived by her dear husband, Jerry of Orrington; her daughter, Jackie of Flagstaff, Ariz.; her son, Jonathan and wife, Caroline, of Alexandria, Va.; brothers, Alton, Vaughn and Allen Mitchell; and grandchildren, Elizabeth and Catherine.
A celebration of life service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at First United Methodist Church, 14 Center Drive, Orrington, with the Rev. Brenda Leclerc officiating. A reception will be afterward in the church parish hall. Gifts in her memory may be made First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 108, Orrington, ME
04474. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.
“Appreciate each day”