Lewis Windell Perkins, born July 24, 1933, in Regency, Texas, was welcomed into the waiting arms of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, on Friday, January 30, 2015.
Survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Carolyn Gore Perkins, and their four children and spouses, Lavonna and Craig Teal, Lawanna Perkins Sewalt, Karen and Greg Aune, and Greg and Mary Perkins, Windell was known as Papa to his ten beloved grandchildren, Luke Sewalt, Holly Teal Hernandez, Leslie Sewalt Head, Stephanie Perkins, Kelsey Teal Vitek, Austin Aune, Addison Perkins, Turner Aune, Chad Aune, Carrie Aune and six great-grandchildren, Regan Head, Kendall Hernandez, Freddie Head, Lyla Sewalt, Rayden Hernandez and Logan Sewalt. Windell was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis A. and Ora Florene Lee Perkins and his older, newborn brother, Bobby Ray Perkins.
After 32 years, Windell retired from the Texas Department of Transportation as a purchaser. Before and after his retirement, Windell always had several side-jobs and interests including remodeling someone’s home to farming, gardening, tending to livestock and his loyal dog, Chip, who never left his side.
Family was his life as well as his hobby, and Windell took every opportunity to love and enjoy them as well as to teach and provide for them. He was a country boy with endless charm and an infectious smile. Known as a man of many skills and talents, his family as well as others considered him a jack-of-all-trades and master-of-most; there was little he couldn’t accomplish, build or repair. Because of his love for wood, along with Carolyn’s creative talents, often times, the two of them found themselves strolling through furniture stores as one of their many past-times. Another of his favorite past-times was dancing, and his daughters enjoyed every opportunity for a two-step or waltz with their daddy. Windell wasn’t much of a traveler, but hunting trips to New Mexico and Colorado were very special to him and his son, where Windell would cook-up his legendary breakfast. In his later years, he developed a passion in serving the Early Lions Club and was known to fry-up a mean batch of catfish for crowds.
Family and friends will celebrate Windell’s life at visitation on Monday, February 2nd, from 6:00 until 8:00 at Heartland Funeral Home in Early. On Tuesday, Feb 3, at 2:00 p.m. in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel, Tim Skaggs, pastor of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church, will officiate the funeral with burial to follow at Eastlawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers for the service are Windell’s grandsons.
Memories of Windell and condolences for the family can be shared at heartlandfuneralhome.net