Barbara Gokey Perkins, age 45, of Lemont Street, Bath, Maine, passed away on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, in her home following a long and courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
She was born on November 30, 1962, in Herkimer, daughter of Ruth Schifferdecker Gokey and the late Ellison Gokey. Barbara was raised in Herkimer where she was a graduate of Herkimer High School with the class of 1980. She furthered her education at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, graduating in 1984, and then received her master’s degree in special education from the State University of New York at Albany in 1985. On July 19, 1986, she was united in marriage with Steven L. Perkins in Herkimer. Mrs. Perkins was a social worker in New York and Massachusetts before retiring due to her disability and moving to Bath, Maine, in 2000.
Barbara was a very gifted vocal musician who for many years sang in choirs, theatrical productions and the opera. She was also an excellent swimmer and taught swimming lessons, life guard certification and water safety courses. She enjoyed hiking, working in her gardens, cooking, antiquing and her pet cats.
Barbara faced her disability head on. She always kept a positive attitude and a smile on her face.
She was preceded in death by her father, Ellison, as a young girl. Surviving are her loving husband of 21 years, Steven; her mother, Ruth Gokey, and her sister, Cheryl Gokey, both of Herkimer; her mother-in-law, Ann H. Perkins, a sister-in-law, Kathleen, and her husband, Sheldon Bird, and a brother-in-law, Richard W. Perkins, all of Bath, Maine; and two nephews.
A celebration of Barbara’s Life will be held on Saturday afternoon, June 14, at 2 p.m. in the First Baptist Church, Herkimer. The Reverend Patti Lawrence, pastor, and the Reverend David Kirkpatrick, pastor emeritus, will officiate.