Longtime Silsbee resident Mary Lee McFarland Perkins,94,passed away September 26, 2016. She was born December 12, 1921 in Wingate, Texas to Elmer Lee and Mary Rose McFarland.
Mary Lee grew up in Houston, where she married James D. Perkins. Both Mary Lee and Jim were members of the Greatest Generation, and both served actively in defense of our country during World War II. Mary Lee served in the United States Army Air Corp as a radio tower operator at military airfields in the northwest part of the country, while her husband served combat duty overseas in the African, Italian, and European campaigns.
After the war, they returned to Houston and re-entered civilian life. They and their daughter Barbara moved to Silsbee in 1954, where Mary Lee worked at the local Champion Paper Company mill. She was active in the local theatre productions, and after her retirement from Champion Paper, Mary Lee served as a volunteer at the library.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband and daughter, as well as brothers Elmer and Raymond McFarland and sister Darsie Nell Recane.
Mary Lee is survived by her sister Jonnie Ruth Willingham of South Houston Texas, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Visitation is scheduled for 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Friday, September 30, 2016, with graveside services to be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Resthaven Cemetery. Farmer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be made to the charity of your choice.
