On Friday, October 8, 2010, Gwyn Perkins peacefully passed from this life while surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Gwyn was born on October 1, 1942 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the first child of William J. and Priscilla Pratt Clough. She was the third baby, and the first girl to be born at what was then the Las Vegas Gunnery School, now none as Nellis Air Force Base, where her father had been in the service. Gwyn spent most of her young life at the service station her parents ran at Crystal, Nevada, near the Valley of Fire.
She attended grade school at the Dry Lake schoolhouse and then later in Moapa Valley, where she graduated in 1960. Following graduation she married Quenton G. Perkins in Las Vegas on June 13, 1960.
Quent and Gwyn moved to Las Vegas where they began their life together. The next two years brought the addition of two sons, followed a few years later by a daughter. During this time they established Perkins Feed and Western Goods in Las Vegas, where she spent many hours managing the store and the kids. Another son was added, and as Quent retired from the Fire Department, they leased the Feed Store and left for Ehrenberg, Arizona and then settled in Dry Valley, Nevada, where they lived until Quenton’s passing in 2000, after which Gwyn moved to Caliente.
In 1969 Gwyn joined the LDS church, and a year later, on Dec. 19, 1970 she and Quent were sealed to each other and their children in the St. George, Utah temple. Gwyn remained an active member of the LDS church, serving in many areas, from Primary to Young Women’s, and was especially involved in the scouting program. She served many years on the Lincoln County Fair Board and made countless friends working in the grocery stores in the county.
The last few years of her life were spent in missionary service for the LDS church in Salt Lake, Utah, a call which she loved, and still kept her close to family. At the end of her third year of service, her health began to decline and she returned to Panaca, Nevada. It was here that she passed away after a short battle with cancer.
Gwyn is survived by her four children: V. Gale Perkins, of Panaca, NV, Glenn L. Perkins (Sue), of McGill, NV, Gina G. Bills (Glen), of Aurora, UT, and Grant J. Perkins (Jamie), of Panaca, NV, and her sister, Ginger Ridley, of Reno, NV. Gwyn was the beloved grandmother of 17, with 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her eternal companion, Quent, and her parents William and Priscilla Clough. She will be in our hearts, until we meet again.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 11:00 am at the Pioche LDS Ward Chapel in Pioche, Nevada. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Southern Nevada Mortuary located at 730 Front St., in Caliente, Nevada. On Thursday, October 14, 2010 it will be at the Pioche LDS Ward from 9:30-10:30 am. Interment will be in the Pioche Cemetery under the direction of Southern Nevada Mortuary.
