Bridges in the USA

Betty grew up and attended school in Archie, Mo. She was married to Eli Perkins on Sept. 11, 1950, in Eureka Springs, Ark., and to this union five children were born. She worked for many years at the local factories: Rawlings, Conaway-Winter and Brown Shoe Company as a floor lady. She also helped Eli in the logging business where she would cut and skid the logs; in fact, she did all aspects except using a chain saw. One year, she and Eli won the Jack and Jill Crosscut Saw contest on Food and Forest Day, beating other teams comprised of men. Betty accepted the Lord as her Savior at the age of 27. She loved the Lord and she served in several capacities at the First Baptist Church in Willow Springs. She not only did custodial work, but also taught the 10-12 girls' group for many years. She loved singing in the choir, and also was a soloist on many occasions.

Betty was also an accomplished seamstress. She made quilts for every member of her family. She had many enjoyments in her life. She loved to garden, grow beautiful roses, and do landscaping. It was said that she loved to sing while she did her household chores. She would sing while she cooked, while she mopped the floors, and knew thousands of songs. If you gave her a word, she could sing a song with that word in it. She also loved to attend sporting events that her children participated in, and she was 100 percent behind their efforts.

Preceding Betty in death are her parents; her husband, Eli; a son, David Eli Perkins; four brothers: Tom, Chester, James, and Joe Bridges; and four sisters: Mary Mathews, Myrtle Bridges, Elma Perkins and Patty Matta.

She is survived by her children: Ollie Isabel Taylor; Daniel J. Perkins and his wife, Sandy; Karen Sue Perkins, and Dwight Perkins, all of Willow Springs.

Also surviving are her grandchildren; Rachel Marie Ellison of Willow Springs; Joseph Ellison and his wife, Sarah, of Sparta, Mo.; David Taylor and his wife, Ashley of Fayetteville, Ark.; Joel Taylor and his wife, Lindsey of Prairie Grove, Ark.; Keturah Stewart and her husband, Dan of Fairview, Mo.; Jemima Huerta and her husband, Jaime of Springdale, Ark.; Jamin Ellison of Ft. Smith; Timothy Perkins and his wife, Malina; Matthew Perkins and his wife, Amanda of Willow Springs; Chanda Lopez and her husband, Miguel of Overland Park, Kan.; David Hoisington of Houston, Texas; Nakita Walser and her husband, Kyle of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and AFC Joshua Perkins of Presidio, Calif. Further surviving are 27 great-grandchildren and counting.