Joyce E Perry

Joyce Estella Kirklin Perry, 79, wife of Donald Lester Perry, went to be with her Heavenly Father with joy and peace at 8:55 pm on August 3rd at her home in Wichita Falls, TX. Memorial Services will be held at 3:30 PM Sunday, August 11, 2013 at Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Fred Yutz officiating.

She was born January 22, 1934, in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Perry W. Kirklin and Martha (Peek) Kirklin. Mrs. Perry attended Lincoln High School, and then earned her nursing degree in 1955 from University of Pittsburg’s Montefiore Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a Registered Nurse for 47 years both in Los Angeles and Wichita Falls, retiring in 2002 from Wichita General Hospital. Joyce was actively involved in numerous volunteer activities. As a cherished member of St. Marks United Methodist Church, Joyce preached throughout the North Texas area at many churches as a Lay Minister, sang in the choir, served as the church pianist and organist for 21 years. Joyce worked with the youth of Wichita Falls through tutoring and mentoring with the Wichita Falls Independent School District. She enjoyed reading, playing the piano, Scrabble, Boggle and card games, museums, traveling and sightseeing. She sang with the Midwestern State University Oratorio and toured with the group throughout the United Kingdom. As a member of the Wichita Falls Chapter of Stonecroft Ministries Christian Women’s Connection Joyce held positions of Chair and Prayer Coordinator.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Donald; mother Martha Peek Kirklin of Bowie, Maryland; son, Donald Lester Perry II of New York City, NY; daughter, Jaquetta Elise Asafu-Adjaye of Wichita Falls, Texas; brothers: Perry W. Kirklin, Jr and wife, Betty of Lakeland, Florida; Percy L. Kirklin and wife, Patricia of Los Angeles, California; Duane R. Kirklin and wife, Ruby of Monrovia, Maryland; Sisters: Portia H. Dixon of Bowie, Maryland and Letitia M. Dyson and husband, William E. of Washington D.C.; Granddaughter, Antonia Joyce Coffelt of Chicago, Illinois, and 6 nieces and 5 nephews. She is preceded in death by her father Perry W. Kirklin Sr.

Joyce was an angel among us. She walked and spoke in love, humility, acceptance, compassion, integrity, strength and dignity and successfully completed her earthly course. She was the embodiment of the words below:

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

― St. Francis of Assisi

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