HOULTON – Madelyn S. Crawford-Perkins passed away Nov. 20, 2011, at a local health care facility. She was born in Pinder, New Brunswick, daughter of the late Charles and Alice (Yates) Stairs.
Madelyn graduated high school in Bangor and attended nursing school. She moved to Houlton, where she was a member of Military Street Baptist Church and participated in the choir for many years. On Feb. 12, 1951, Madelyn was hired as the director of social activities for Houlton Recreation Department. She initiated many projects for both youth and adults in Houlton, most notably the Houlton Peanut Carnival in 1955. After 28 years of service, Madelyn retired from the recreation department and married Russell Perkins, in 1979, at which time they relocated to Ocala, Fla. With her husband, Madelyn enjoyed traveling to numerous rallies around the country, setting up stations and teaching crafts to interested attendees. After her husband’s death in 2006, Madelyn came home to Houlton, spending the remainder of her days in the town she loved.
Madelyn is survived by her son, Robert F. Crawford and his wife, Judy, of Caribou; granddaughters, Mary Welch and her husband, Robert, of Katy, Texas, Jennifer Rand and her husband, Michael, of Caribou; four great-grandchildren, Nikki and Maggie Welch of Katy, Texas, Eric Tilmont, and Gabriel Rand of Caribou; older sister, Christina Stairs of Stanley, New Brunswick; niece, Pat Corey and her husband, Murray, of Nackawic, New Brunswick; and nephew, Keith Stairs and his wife, Lorna, of Kleinburg, Ontario. She also leaves behind four stepchildren, Helen Perkins of Gig Harbor, Wash., Judy (Perkins) Bologna and her husband, Tony, of Warner, N.H., Bruce Perkins and his wife, Mary, of Tilton, N.H., and Russell “Bill” Perkins and his wife, Claudia, of Sebastopol, Calif. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Russell Perkins; sister, Leona Munro of Nackawic, New Brunswick, and her husband, Austin; brother, Delmont Stairs of Southampton, New Brunswick, and his wife, Joleen; nephew, Laurence Stairs of Grayling, Mich.; and brother-in-law, Bige Stairs.
Friends may call 10:30 a.m. Friday until the time of the service noon at Dunn Funeral Home with the Rev. Randall Burns officiating. Gifts may be made in Madelyn’s memory to Madigan Estates Activity Fund, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton. Online condolences and guest book at
www.dunnfuneral.com.