Perkins, Opal Josephine 1913-2002

PERKINS, SHARRAR, MCKEAG, NORMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/15/2011 at 08:53:37

Montezuma Republican; Feb. 6, 2002

OPAL PERKINS, 88

Opal Josephine (Norman) Perkins, 88, died Friday, Jan. 18, 2002, in Surprise, Ariz.

Graveside services were Saturday, Jan. 26, in Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma with the Rev. Burr Bryant officiating. Arrangements were by Watts Funeral Home of Montezuma.

Opal was born March 30, 1913, in Montezuma, the daughter of Ben and Jessie (Sharrar) McKeag. She graduated from Montezuma High School.

In 1933, she married C.O. "Ollie" Norman, and they had three children. The couple operated the Irish Inn in Montezuma, Norman Cleaners in Toledo and Norman's Variety in Carlisle, Iowa. She also was a bookkeeper for Iowa Power and for the State of Iowa. Her husbnd later died.

In 1974, Opal married Russell Perkins. She loved to make quilts and made baby quilts for many of the babies born to families in her church. She also volunteered for the Veterans' Administration.

Opal is survived by two sons, Clarence Norman of Surprise and Ben Norman of Ankeny; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant daughter, Mary Jo;; and her brother, Lester McKeag.