Florine Janet Perkins

OLD TOWN—While relieved that her physical suffering has ended, the children of Florine Janet (Coughlin) Perkins, 85, sadly announce her passing on October 28, 2011 surrounded by her loving family. Mother was born in Old Town August 14, 1926 the 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” in 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 past-time, 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; a son Larry Perkins of Orland; 13 grandchildren Pamela Brown, Patricia Jordan, Sherry Turcotte, Lewis Soper, Janet McLaughlin, Ricky Perham, Randy Oliver, Nick Perkins, Chris perkins, Jacob Norton, ray Perkins Jr, Dawn Drouin, and Paul Gauvin, 19 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren; a sister Marily LaBelle of Argyle, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Alfred Perkins Sr. in 2003; a son Ray Perkins Sr. in 2010, and an infant son Alfred Jr.; a sister Corinne Land and a brother Harold Coughlin.

Friends may call 3-6 PM Friday at the Birmingham Funeral Home 438 Main St Old Town where a funeral service will be conducted 10 AM Saturday. Burial will follow at Lawndale Cemetery, Old Town. Notes of condolence may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com