OLD TOWN – While relieved that her physical suffering has ended, the children of Florine Janet (Coughlin) Perkins, 85, sadly announce her passing Oct. 28, 2011, surrounded by her loving family. Mother was born Aug. 14, 1926, in Old Town, daughter of Herman and Gertrude (Carey) Coughlin.
She attended Old Town schools. On May 29, 1946, she married her soul mate, Alfred Perkins, and soon they settled in West Old Town to raise their family. Mother worked hard all her life, first in area shoe shops until finally retiring from the Pie Plate, Old Town, when it closed in 1980. Mother was well liked among her co-workers and was affectionately referred to as Ma Perkins. Spending time with family was her favorite pastime, and spent many evenings with Mary and Wheldon Young and Sharon and Damon Young playing cards games such as 83. These games were always played with men against women, with the women usually letting the men win so as not to bruise their egos. Always a willing babysitter, mother took pleasure in having her grandchildren underfoot. Aside from being a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and even great-great-grandmother, she was also a good neighbor and exceptional friend. The coffee was always hot at Alfred and Florine’s, where everyone was welcome to just stop in and relax, we can’t count the number of friends, who remarked that they felt like they were part of the family.
Mother is survived by three daughters, Ruth Young and her husband, Wayne, of Lincoln, Linda Soper and her husband, Lewis, of Orland and Gale Gray and her companion, Ron Cota, of Old Town; son, Larry Perkins of Orland; 13 grandchildren, Pamela Brown, Patricia Jordan, Sherry Turcotte, Lewis Soper, Janet McLaughlin, Ricky Perham, Randy Oliver, Ray Jr., Nick, Chris and Jake Perkins, Dawn Drouin, and Paul Gauvin; 19 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Marilyn LaBelle of Argyle; sisters-in-law, Martha Paul, Mildred Guy and Eunice Coughlin; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Alfred Perkins Sr., in 2003; son, Ray Perkins Sr., in 2010; infant son, Alfred Jr.; sister, Corinne Land; and brother, Harold Coughlin.
Friends may call 3-6 p.m. Friday at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town, where a funeral service will be conducted 10 a.m. Saturday.
Burial will be after at Lawndale Cemetery, Old Town. A memorial luncheon at Orono American Legion hall will be held after the burial. Notes of condolence may be left at
www.birminghamfuneralhome.com.