Rita E. Perkins

Perkins, Rita E., 83, died Monday, January 25, 2010. Rosary 6:30 p.m., Friday, January 29, with Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 30, both at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Survivors: husband, Morris Perkins; children, Andrea (Roger) McCoy of Oklahoma City, OK, Morris “Rick” (Valerie) Perkins, Jr. and Michele Shurtz, both of Wichita, Greg (Pat) Perkins of Augusta, KS, Hilary (Nan) Perkins of Wichita, Christopher (Joanna) Perkins of Arvada, CO, Geoffrey (Trudie) Perkins of Olathe, KS and Jonathan (Mary) Perkins of Peoria, AZ; brothers, John J. Schuckman, Jr. of Crofton, NE and Alphonse Schuckman of Mt. Pleasant, MI; 20 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Rita was an extremely active and vital individual who enjoyed life. Her first love was her Catholic faith. She practiced this through her whole life without question. Her second love was her husband Morris, of 63 years whom she met during WWII and married on September 2, 1946. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren without question. She was active in her faith on many levels. She was involved in the Altar Society (past president), Serra Club, Legion of Mary, and was a charter adorer for Holy Hour at Blessed Sacrament Church. She enjoyed golfing (had won several medals) and bowling. Her investment club was not only fun for her, but a source of income for many shopping catalog orders. Rita loved anything that grew and her children showered her with bouquets of plants and flowers on every birthday and holiday. In her later years, she became interested in painting with watercolor. Her favorite subject was old barns. She would take or find pictures of these settings and paint them. Rita loved her faithful little schnauzer, Mitzi, who misses her terribly. A memorial has been established with Blessed Sacrament Endowment Fund, 124 N. Roosevelt, Wichita, KS, 67208. Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Rosary 6:30 p.m., Friday, January 29, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.