Homer Guy Perkins, Jr. ’62

Perkins '62Homer Guy Perkins, Jr., 69, of Lake Wyola, Shutesbury, passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield after a brief struggle with cancer.

Born Sept. 23, 1944, in New Haven, Conn., he was the son of Homer Guy Perkins, Sr. and Dorothy Catherine (Stock) Perkins and the brother of Maribeth Grant (Russell) of Pascoag, R.I., Hazel Adolphson of Hatfield, Caroline Perkins of Huntington, WV, Dolly Perkins (Larry Novak) of Silver Spring, Md., Faith Perkins (Jim Crotteau) of Lamoine, Maine, and Ruth Sico (Joe) of Sanford, Maine.

Homer wanted only that his family be happy. He found his path and “the peace he was always looking for” on Lake Wyola with his wife of 38 years Elizabeth Phyfe Perkins.

He leaves behind a large and active family who have been graced by his humor, love and compassion. His children, Gus Perkins and wife Deanna Scarfe, of W. Chesterfield, Maggie Perkins and Jenny Kipp, both of San Francisco, Calif., Lily Perkins and wife Valerie Lynch, of Amherst, and Jeriko (Daisy) Perkins of South Hadley. He also leaves behind ten grandchildren, Ruben, Rowan, Finley, Aubin, Michael, Juan, Eva, Sadie, Silas and Elijah.

Homer “Hook” Perkins graduated cum laude from Williston Academy in 1962 where he also excelled in athletics. He then attended Trinity College, Hartford. Homer was a field engineer with Daniel O’Connell & Sons for much of his career and we remember him by several local fish ladders, the Springfield skyline whose tall buildings and Memorial Bridge restoration were laid out by him and his involvement in the building of Rte. 291 and at UMass, Commonwealth Avenue and the Southwest complex.

Homer leaves many friends near and far with whom he laughed and played and for whom he felt much gratitude and affection. Homer had a gift for making those around him feel accepted exactly as they were. Babies and grandchildren settled onto his lap and rested quietly. He was famous for his humor, generosity, his skill at Scrabble and cards as well as his ability to just sit quietly in the moment.

We, the family and the Lake Wyola community are reminded of him each day by his wood prisms and sculptures, Adirondack chairs and benches, yard art and carpentry projects that surround many of us in our homes. We will always think of Homer, in the stillness of the early morning light, paddling his kayak to the south cove of Lake Wyola with his dogs perched on his lap. We can hear his voice in the crooning of Bing Crosby singing Galway Bay and in the laughter and calm of being together with family and friends.

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