Minniebell Perkins

KERRVILLE - Minniebell McKaughan Perkins, daughter of Elvin W. McKaughan and Minnie Belle Skeels, was born March 14, 1921 in Quay, Oklahoma; she passed away on January 27, 2015 in Kerrville. She moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma as a child where she was raised and educated, graduating from Stillwater High School in 1938, and attending Oklahoma State University. January 21, 1943, she married Max Preston Perkins in Oklahoma City. In 1978, after her husband's retirement as a civil servant, they moved to Kerrville where he died February 14, 1980.

Mrs. Perkins was an artist and craftsman. She volunteered for over ten years at the Hill Country Art Foundation, being co-chairman of the Gazebo Art and Gift Shop for eight years. Before moving to Kerrville, she was a member of the Trinity Arts Guild, Bedford, Texas, for twelve years and Gallery Chairman of that organization for ten years. She taught in night school for many years. She and her sister Hazel McKaughan Barnes, designed their headstones, using the grapes from their parents stone.

Minniebell was a genealogist. She started working on her McKaughan line in 1955 and traced and documented the line back to the Pictish Tribes in 247 A.D. In 1991, she published a book "Cuz of Sorts, Descendants of the 'Horse Lord' Eacain" which was over 700 pages covering all the McKaughan lines (variously spelled) who came to America. In 1990, she helped form the "Clan McEacain-McKaughan Family Association of North America" that gathers every other year. She was elected secretary-treasurer of this organization and she remained in that position ever since. One of her duties was to put out a newsletter twice a year to its members. She is a member of the Oklahoma State Alumni, The First Families of Franklin (Tennessee), a charter member of Heart of the Hills Hospice, Hospice Auxiliary, of which she held several offices, The Scots of the Texas Hill Country, she for many years played the organ at nursing homes for the patients and was a member of the Episcopal Church.

Survivors are one son, Ronald K. Perkins of El Paso; two granddaughters, Amy McKaughan and Kelli Perkins; six great-grandchildren; dear friends, Don and Dotti Reynolds of Hawkins; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, February 6, 2015 at Garden of Memories Cemetery. Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 PM, Thursday, February 5, 2015 at Kerrville Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Peterson Hospice, 1121 Broadway, Kerrville, TX 78028.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home. (830) 895-5111

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