Mary Lee Perkins of West Des Moines, Iowa passed to eternity on January 4, 2024, after a brief illness. A visitation will be held Sunday, January 7, 2024, from 3 - 4:00 p.m. at McLaren's Resthaven Chapel West Des Moines, Iowa 50265, followed by a funeral service at 4:00 p.m. Burial will take place on Monday, January 8th at the Chariton Cemetery in Chariton, Iowa at 11 a.m.
Mary Lee Burge was born at her grandmother, Amy Fluke Yengel’s home in Chariton, Iowa on July 31, 1928, the only child of Pauline Yengel and William Dale Burge. She graduated from Chariton High School and attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. She retired in 1988 after 28 years as an administrative assistant with the USDA Farmers' Home Administration including serving as the primary administrative assistant for the state director of the Iowa FmHA.
Fishing has been a life-long time joy for Mary at lakes in Iowa and Minnesota. She and her husband spent many summers fishing at their cabin on Long Lake, Park Rapids, Minn. Hosting family and friends at the lake is a now family tradition that she and Don started years ago. Mary had unconditional love for all of her children, grand- and great-grandchildren, with pride and celebration of their successes and supportive encouragement in response to life’s disappointments.
She is survived by her children Michael (Mary) Covault of Meridian Idaho, Linda (Ed) Wood of Hannibal Missouri, Jonathan (Mike) Covault of Simsbury Connecticut and Marion Logue of West Des Moines. Mary life was blessed by ten grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Don, son Donnie Perkins and grandson Benjamin Covault.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in Mary’s memory to the Taylor Hospice Home, 3401 E Douglas Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317. Please visit www.mclarensresthavenchapel.com for the Perkins family.
