Perkins, Clara Mae Died peacefully at her home in McKinney, Texas early Sunday, June 29, 2008. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of McKinney at 11:30 AM, Wednesday, July 2, 2008 following a private graveside service at Pecan Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. Born as Clara Mae James in Pecan Gap, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom W. Perkins, Jr., former Mayor of McKinney and editor and publisher of the McKinney Courier Gazette; daughter, Sally Perkins Jeanes, and two grandchildren, Jason Jeanes and Stephen Marchant. Clara Mae is survived by her two daughters, Mrs. Clara Marie Marchant of Richardson, Texas and Mrs. Patty James Perkins Melander of Bowdoinham, Maine; three sons-in-law, Lt. Col. Joe Marchant, Commander Errol Melander, and John Jeanes; ten grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren and numerous other loving family members and friends. Mrs. Perkins is remembered as an active civic leader and for being a proud active life long democrat. She served as a member of the Texas Democratic Executive Committee and was a member of the Jeanne d' Arc Club, the Blue Bonnet Sewing Club, the McKinney and El Dorado Country Clubs, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was a leader in establishing a modern library in McKinney. With an active thirst for knowledge, she began college at CIA in Denton, Texas and later returned to complete her degree at Texas Women's University graduating in 1961. She then taught speech and drama at Caldwell Middle School after the death of her husband. Being an active traveler and being the last surviving mother of all her daughter's Boyd High School friends, she became "Mom" to all of them and also to many people around the world. Her daughters give special thanks to her devoted caregivers, Mrs. Corie Taylor and Mrs. Marie Brown and to her caring physician, Dr. Billy Boring, Jr., a former Caldwell student. Memorials may be made to the McKinney Public Library or to the First Presbyterian Church, McKinney, Texas. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjm funeral.com.