Marie Ellen Perkins, 93, of Friona passed away January 21, 2020 in Friona. Viewing will be held Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. with family visitation from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home. Celebration of Life Services have been set for 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January 26, 2020 at the 10th St. Church of Christ in Friona with Gaines Butman and Morgan Davidson, officiating. Burial following in the Friona Cemetery by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.

Marie was born on October 25, 1926 to David Higgin and Pearl Ruby (Hickey) Wright in Tribbey, Oklahoma.  Marie was the oldest of nine children with four brothers and four sisters younger than she.

Marie began her school years in Wannette and later moved back to Tribbey.  Always a good student, she graduated as valedictorian of her 8th-grade class.  She attended Radio School at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma as a high school student.

On August 24th, 1950, she married Cassey Wade Perkins of Trousdale, Oklahoma and moved to Texas that very same day to begin their married life.  They celebrated 59 years of marriage before Cass'death in 2010. Along with their children, David Roger, Darla Marie, and Leslie Wade, they made Friona their home where all their children and several of the grandchildren graduated from Friona High School.

Marie became a Christian at a very young age in Tribbey and always loved the Lord. She was a member of the 10th St. Church of Christ.

Marie served as a Girl Scout Leader, a Den Mother, and took a CNA course at Prairie Acres in her 70's to help fulfill a lifelong dream of being a nurse.  An avid reader, she always had a home library for herself and her children. She served on the Friona Public Library Board of Trustees and as Lay Representative to the Texas Panhandle Library System. She was a lifetime member of the Friends of the Friona Public Library.  She loved quilting, cooking, painting, and writing letters to her family, and loved being a homemaker.

Marie joined many of her dear loved ones who have gone on before: her parents, her husband, her sons David and Leslie, her grandson Cody, and her great-great-granddaughter Rebecca, and 4 brothers.  She is blessed to be survived by her daughter Darla Marie and husband Rex of Friona, her daughter-in-law Becky Perkins of Clovis, New Mexico. 8 grandchildren: Carol Dirr, Candace Marie Wanner and husband Joey, Cynthia Meyers and husband Roger all of Louisiana. Julie Davidson and husband Stuart of Seminole, Texas, Cassey Perkins and Daniel Perkins of Clovis, New Mexico and Adam and Tiffanie of American Home, California.  22 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Her sisters Verma Sisson of Lincoln, California, Veda Anderson of Altus, Oklahoma, Barbara Lacy of Mustang, Oklahoma, and Marilyn Wilson of Blanchard, Oklahoma, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials may be made to Parmer County Historical Museum 218 W. 6th, Friends of the Friona Public Library  P.O. Box 926 Friona, Texas  79035, Prairie Acres Love Fund 201 E. 15th Friona, Texas  79035 or your favorite charity.