Lillian "Lee" B. (Bowes) Perkins

   Lillian B. "Lee" Perkins, 94, Clayton, passed away Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Samaritan Summit Village.

   Lee was born in Mineola, Long Island on August 12, 1930. She was the daughter of George and Lydia (Keppler) Bowes. In 1947, Lee graduated from Schreiber High School in Port Washington, after which the family moved to LaFargeville. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from SUNY Geneseo in 1952 and was licensed in speech correction. Lee then received her Masters in Education in 1963 with a license in school administration and supervision.

   She married the love of her love, Charles “Sid” Perkins on June 9, 1952.  He passed away in 1995.

   After their marriage, the couple lived in Leicester, NY. Lee was a grade school teacher at Caledonia Mumford Central School from 1952 until her retirement in 1985. After retiring from teaching, Lee worked for three years in the child welfare division of the Livingston County Department of Social Services.  After moving to Clayton in 1999, Lee was a sales associate for Bowes Realty for several years.

   Lee was a member of the Genesee United Methodist Church and then the Clayton United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and was a church trustee. Most recently, Lee was a communicant of St. Mary's Church. She was a former secretary and president of the Livingston County Civil Service Employee Association and the Caledonia Teachers Association. Lee was also the tax assessor for the town of Leicester for a short time.   She was a former member of the Thousand Islands Craft School Quilters, the Sunshine Quilters, and the Thousand Islands Museum. Lee was an avid reader, quilter, baker, singer, and loved her dogs.

   Lee is survived by her brother George J. Bowes, Jr., LaFargeville;  step-sister Glorianne Garnsey, PA; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents George Bowes, Sr and Lydia Bowes Zang; sister Dorothy A. Henry and her husband Maurice E. Henry; sister-in-law Miriam J. Bowes; two step-sisters, Evelyn Queal and Louise Read; and half-brother Philip Zang, Jr.

   Lee’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Samaritan Summit Village, especially to the first floor staff for the kindness, love, and friendship shown to Lee.

   A funeral mass for our beloved Aunt Lee will be celebrated on Thursday, March 13, at 10 AM at St. Mary's Church. The graveside service will be held in St. Mary's Cemetery on Monday, June 30, at 1:00 PM. Arrangements are entrusted with Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton and online condolences to Lee's family may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to St. Mary's Church, 521 James St., Clayton, NY 13624 or your local SPCA.

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