Kathryn L. (Prosser) Perkins (88), of Emporia, passed away Sunday, February 05, 2012 at the Emporia Presbyterian Manor after declining health.
Kathryn was born in Osage City, Kansas on July 12, 1923, the daughter of Dr. Francis (DDS) and Edna Russell Prosser. She was the oldest of three daughters. Kathryn attended Osage City schools and graduated from Osage City High School in 1941. She began her musical interests playing the organ at the First Presbyterian Church of Osage City when she was 14 years old. She entered the College of Emporia (Kansas) in the fall of 1941 and graduated with a Music Education Degree, Pipe Organ Major in 1944. It was while she was at the College of Emporia that she met her husband, Elvin D. Perkins. They were married in Osage City, Kansas on August 9, 1944 while Elvin was home on leave from the U.S. Navy. Following graduation and marriage, Kathryn taught music at Marquette, Kansas and in the Kansas City, Kansas school system. She also lived in Topeka, Kansas while her husband attended Washburn Law School.
Kathryn and Elvin moved to Emporia in the summer of 1948, where they have made their home for the past 63 years. She lived a very active life, not only as a wife and mother of three children, but also as a musician and committed community member. Over decades Kathryn was a vital part of the music program at the First Presbyterian Church where she directed the youth choirs in the early years and continued as organist for more than 25 years. In addition to providing organ music for Sunday worship, she played for numerous weddings and funerals. She also served as a substitute organist in other local churches for years.
Kathryn had been involved with her three children’s school activities, including PTA, and their extracurricular programs, acting as Cub Scout Den mother among other things. She served as a Girl Scout Leader for her daughter’s troop and continued on with volunteering for the Girl Scout Council. Active in community affairs, she served 12 years on the Board of Education and was President of the school board; she served a term on the Board of Directors and as President of the United Way of the Flint Hills; and she served several years on the Emporia Arts Council Board and as President and as a tireless volunteer for many of their programs. Kathryn was a charter member of the GT Chapter of the P.E.O., a member of the Trend Club and a past member of the Mu Phi Music Sorority, La Sertoma Club, and Emporia Social Services. She was a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church and served as an Elder in addition to her participation in the music services at the church. She was a member of the ESU Music School Advisory Board, which sponsored events to benefit the Scholarship Funds for music students. She was a long time member of the Saint David Society and organist for Saint David’s Day, where she had the privilege of accompanying he father as a tenor soloist for at least one Saint David’s Day Concert. Kathryn gave private piano lessons for many years and remained active as a musician during all of her life.
Kathryn enjoyed spending time with her family and loved traveling with her husband. They enjoyed their trips abroad to explore Europe, Jamaica and Mexico as well as their many months of March that they spent in Florida.
She is survived by her husband, Elvin of the home; two sons, John Perkins and his wife, Linda of Parkville, Missouri and Steven Perkins and his wife, Pamela of Arkansas City, Kansas; a daughter, Janet Jehle and her husband, Charles of Overland Park, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Perkins, and her husband, Andrew Massieon of Lenexa, Mark Perkins and his wife, Emily of Prairie Village, Kansas, Justin Perkins of Wichita, Kansas, Taylor Brown of Vail Colorado, Christopher Jehle, Courtney Jehle, Tyler Jehle and Kathryn Jehle; great-grandchildren Andrew Massieon and Sophia Massieon. She is also survived by four nephews, Brian Ashcraft, Dr. Scott Ashcraft, Kelly Simcox and Bradley Simcox.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Francis and Edna Prosser; two sisters, Frances Ashcraft and Shirley Simcox; and a nephew, Newton Simcox.
Cremation is planned. The Memorial Service will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus. Pastor Ron Phelps will officiate. The family will meet with friends after the service in the parlor of the church. Private family inurnment will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Emporia Community Foundation for the Emporia Arts Council Endowment Fund. Donations may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathryn L. Perkins, please visit our flower store.
Kathryn was born in Osage City, Kansas on July 12, 1923, the daughter of Dr. Francis (DDS) and Edna Russell Prosser. She was the oldest of three daughters. Kathryn attended Osage City schools and graduated from Osage City High School in 1941. She began her musical interests playing the organ at the First Presbyterian Church of Osage City when she was 14 years old. She entered the College of Emporia (Kansas) in the fall of 1941 and graduated with a Music Education Degree, Pipe Organ Major in 1944. It was while she was at the College of Emporia that she met her husband, Elvin D. Perkins. They were married in Osage City, Kansas on August 9, 1944 while Elvin was home on leave from the U.S. Navy. Following graduation and marriage, Kathryn taught music at Marquette, Kansas and in the Kansas City, Kansas school system. She also lived in Topeka, Kansas while her husband attended Washburn Law School.
Kathryn and Elvin moved to Emporia in the summer of 1948, where they have made their home for the past 63 years. She lived a very active life, not only as a wife and mother of three children, but also as a musician and committed community member. Over decades Kathryn was a vital part of the music program at the First Presbyterian Church where she directed the youth choirs in the early years and continued as organist for more than 25 years. In addition to providing organ music for Sunday worship, she played for numerous weddings and funerals. She also served as a substitute organist in other local churches for years.
Kathryn had been involved with her three children’s school activities, including PTA, and their extracurricular programs, acting as Cub Scout Den mother among other things. She served as a Girl Scout Leader for her daughter’s troop and continued on with volunteering for the Girl Scout Council. Active in community affairs, she served 12 years on the Board of Education and was President of the school board; she served a term on the Board of Directors and as President of the United Way of the Flint Hills; and she served several years on the Emporia Arts Council Board and as President and as a tireless volunteer for many of their programs. Kathryn was a charter member of the GT Chapter of the P.E.O., a member of the Trend Club and a past member of the Mu Phi Music Sorority, La Sertoma Club, and Emporia Social Services. She was a member of the Emporia Presbyterian Church and served as an Elder in addition to her participation in the music services at the church. She was a member of the ESU Music School Advisory Board, which sponsored events to benefit the Scholarship Funds for music students. She was a long time member of the Saint David Society and organist for Saint David’s Day, where she had the privilege of accompanying he father as a tenor soloist for at least one Saint David’s Day Concert. Kathryn gave private piano lessons for many years and remained active as a musician during all of her life.
Kathryn enjoyed spending time with her family and loved traveling with her husband. They enjoyed their trips abroad to explore Europe, Jamaica and Mexico as well as their many months of March that they spent in Florida.
She is survived by her husband, Elvin of the home; two sons, John Perkins and his wife, Linda of Parkville, Missouri and Steven Perkins and his wife, Pamela of Arkansas City, Kansas; a daughter, Janet Jehle and her husband, Charles of Overland Park, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Perkins, and her husband, Andrew Massieon of Lenexa, Mark Perkins and his wife, Emily of Prairie Village, Kansas, Justin Perkins of Wichita, Kansas, Taylor Brown of Vail Colorado, Christopher Jehle, Courtney Jehle, Tyler Jehle and Kathryn Jehle; great-grandchildren Andrew Massieon and Sophia Massieon. She is also survived by four nephews, Brian Ashcraft, Dr. Scott Ashcraft, Kelly Simcox and Bradley Simcox.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Francis and Edna Prosser; two sisters, Frances Ashcraft and Shirley Simcox; and a nephew, Newton Simcox.
Cremation is planned. The Memorial Service will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus. Pastor Ron Phelps will officiate. The family will meet with friends after the service in the parlor of the church. Private family inurnment will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Emporia Community Foundation for the Emporia Arts Council Endowment Fund. Donations may be sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathryn L. Perkins, please visit our flower store.
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