CORA AUGUSTA GARNER PERKINS

CORA AUGUSTA GARNER PERKINS

Des Moines

Cora Augusta Garner Perkins, 93, of Des Moines, died Saturday at home with her family at her side.

Cora was born November 6, 1915, in Glen Flora, WI, the seventh of nine children of Edward and Cora Garner. She lived in several small towns in Minnesota and Iowa until the family moved in 1924 to Eldora, where Cora graduated from high school in 1934. She earned a degree from Cottey College in Nevada, MO, in 1936 and moved to Des Moines with her father's family in 1937.

She married Gerald ("Perk") Perkins, who worked for Cora's father at Garner Publishing Co. in Des Moines, on September 10, 1939, and they bought a small house two doors north of her father's house. For 62 years, Cora and Perk lived in the house, which was enlarged several times as they raised four children and when Cora's sister, Vera Garner, came to live with the family in 1956.

Cora remained in the house for seven and a half years after Perk died in April 2002 and it was her fervent wish to stay in the house as long as she lived, a goal she achieved Saturday.

She was believed to be the longest continuous resident of the Westwood neighborhood, having spent 72 years on S.W. 51st St.

Cora was well-known for raising thousands of dollars for charities each year by collecting cans in Greenwood Park, a territory she guarded tenaciously, arising at 5 a.m. if she found someone had beaten her to a cache of cans. She was Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year in 1989 for ringing bells at Christmas time at Merle Hay Mall. She was a member of PEO Chapter IE for 69 years, "The Club" book club for 14 years, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the Energy and Self-Reliance Center, Beyond War and Bread for the World. She was a dedicated and liberal Democrat, although she tolerated some Republican friends when she saw redeeming characteristics in them.

Cora was the last living member of her siblings' generation. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her eight brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her four children, John (Joyce) Perkins of Des Moines, Sarah (Chuck) Fletcher of Surprise, AZ, Jerry (Peggy) Perkins of Des Moines, and Vera (De Ardis) Davis of Avondale, AZ; four grandchildren, Megan (Howard) Tempero of Des Moines, Joe Perkins of Austin, TX, John Perkins of Jefferson City, MO, Geoff Perkins of Des Moines; and Jeremy Perkins of Des Moines; four great-grandchildren, Rezin, Corbet, Islalucia and Aristella Tempero, all of Des Moines; and numerous nieces and nephews who loved Cora like a mother.

Cora had many friends who loved her for her caring heart, insatiable pursuit of knowledge and great appetite for travel. Among them was Helen Burr, Cora's best-friend and Scrabble-playing partner for 73 years before Helen's death in 2007, and Polly Haskins, who lived next door for more than 50 years.

Cora's family also would like to thank her loyal caregiver, Mary McCarthy of Ames, for her special touch and the Wesley Hospice staff, especially Ande and Maura.

A celebration of Cora's life will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, at Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave. in Des Moines.

Memorial contributions should be made to the breakfast program at Children and Family Urban Ministries, P. O. Box 41125, Des Moines, IA, 50311.

Brooks Funeral Care