I knew Mike since he first started working at Willdan and eventually got to know levels and levels that weren't obvious at first.  At first, he just seemed like part of the colorful office - this outlandish character that dressed like a hillbilly, lived in a barn, and told outrageous stories.  The idea of turning him loose with valued clients was an adventure all by itself.  But, as I grew to know him better and see through the rough exterior, I found, well, pure gold.

Let's start with one of the rarest human virtues: honesty.  Heck, Mike was probably not only incapable of lying, I doubt it would ever even occur to him.  Good or bad, you always knew exactly where you stood with Mike.  Did you ever notice the effect he had on a crowd?  He could single-handedly eliminate all the tension in the room because he filled it so full of unpretentious, down to earth, 100% genuine Mike that there was no room left for tension, nervousness, pretense, or any type of fakery.

How about integrity?  It seems particularly ironic to me that he never passed all the parts of the professional engineer exam because he was the embodiment of the principles of professionalism.  I'm not sure how many people realized just how passionately professional he was.  But that won't come as a surprise to anyone, considering that he was so passionate about everything he did.  

If you ever needed a favor, one quick call to Mike was all that was necessary; he would drop whatever he was doing and trip over himself in his hurry to help.  And if one had an opportunity to do him a favor, his heartfelt appreciation would make the favor itself seem small in comparison.

I don't think Perky was ever a Boy Scout, but he had many of the traits Boy Scouts aspire to - like trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, kindness, etc.  He became a respected, albeit colorful, member of the Civil War re-enactor community and,  not surprisingly an authoritative historian of the Civil War era.  It was fascinating to hear his stories of that time period and I enjoyed taking my son to one of his re-enactments.  

And those clients we were afraid to expose him to?  They became some of his biggest fans.  Just ask them.  Then ask them about the elaborate April Fools jokes he would mastermind!

Anyone who knew Mike will no doubt remember stories and smile.  Which is appropriate - I know whenever I spent time with Mike, I always left feeling better about myself and life in general.  And that's how I feel now: better for having known him.  But I will sure miss him.

Perky, you made so many of us laugh.  You will be missed.

I am lucky to have worked with you at Willdan.   You left this world much too soon.  You are missed.

Sharon Dougherty - Oregon

I remember the day Mike walked into Willdan.  You see, Mike is not your typical engineer brat who went straight to college after high school.  Perky didn't have what most would call the normal track - he was an iron worker and air force vet.  He was the first to tell you he was a little rough around the edges.  Perky overcame a tall obstacle when he decided to go back to school and earn his engineering degree.  I have great admiration and respect for someone who could turn his life 180 degrees and start a new professional career when most would have just stayed the course.  
There are several stories I could share - some not fit for this guestbook.  A couple that comes to mind was when he told us he fell off a bridge somewhere in the mid-west when he was an iron worker.  He said he went straight to the bottom like a stone since he had a heavy work belt and loaded down with tools.  He managed to unfasten his belt and tools and swim to the surface.  It was winter and I believe Perky caught a cold.
Another time Perky gave me a ride in his car.  His care also served as a sort of preparation center for him - he had toothbrush comb and razor handy.  I got a kick out of a comb device he used that also served to cut hair.  It had a razor blade and comb setup that allowed him to cut his hair while driving.  You can imagine the condition of his car.
But perky was made of platinum.  He was one of the most pleasant people I've ever worked with.  You could depend on him like a soldier in arms - he always had your 6.
I do miss you Perky.  God Bless you...

Perky, RIP. You are loved more than you knew...

He always said: "I'm perfect because I'm nobody and nobody is perfect"  He truly was perfect and definitely was somebody.  Someone who despite his humbleness was loved by anyone he knew.

Love you and miss you Perky

OBITUARY

Michael Allen Perkins

Charles Carroll Funeral Home

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