Gretchen "Kay" Perkins, 79, of Brookings, passed away on Sunday, July 17, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.  A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at Eidsness Funeral Home at 10:00 A.M.  The service will be live-streamed as well as recorded and uploaded to the Eidsness Funeral Home website.  Instructions on joining the Zoom live-stream of the service may be found at the bottom of this text.  Visitation will be held one half hour prior to the service.  There will be a time of fellowship following the service at Eidsness Funeral Home.

Gretchen Kay Brown Perkins was born in Hobbs, NM on March 7, 1943 to parents Paul S. Brown, Verna Lee Minton Brown. Her siblings include Barbara May Brown Caton, Milo Minton Brown, Michael Fredrick Brown.  Kay had two children Lora Perkins and Cari Perkins and four grandchildren Ellee Perkins, Aden Perkins, Teya Perkins, and Rylan Date.

Kay attended Hobbs High School graduating in 1961. During high school, she enjoyed barrel riding, playing in marching band and skinny dipping in stock tanks (there wasn't much to do in Hobbs America). Kay attended the University of New Mexico graduating in 1965. During college, Kay was in Pi Beta Phi, the UNM marching band, and played guitar at Hootenannies. She also  worked as the event coordinator at the UMN student union where she scheduled movies, concerts, and met performers such as Johnny Cash.

On July 3, 1965, Kay married Roy F. 'Duke' Perkins in Hobbs, NM.  After which they lived in Santa Fe, NM; Pie Town, NM (where she baked the pies); Midland, TX; and Albuquerque, NM.  In 1977, they settled in Las Cruces, NM.  During her time in Las Cruces, Kay was a girl scout leader, soccer coach, president of the PTA, and hot air balloon crew. Kay worked for Las Cruces Public Schools and New Mexico State University. AT NMSU, Kay coordinated environmental activities including a design contest (15 yrs) where hundreds of national and international college and select HS teams competed to answer real environmental problems proposed by governmental agencies and industry. She also coordinated summer environmental programs for HS teachers and students with a focus on increasing diversity and inclusion in STEM. Kay was also an athlete who played tennis, racquetball (Senior Olympics), intramural badminton, and bowled in a league.

Kay enjoyed playing piano, guitar, handbells and singing in a community choir (Mesilla Valley Chorale) and church choir (St. Paul's United Methodist church).  Kay was an enthusiastic traveler with trips throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. Kay also traveled to the British Isles, western Europe, Japan, Egypt, Turkey, and Greece.  Kay was also quite a card shark with considerable skills in bridge, cribbage, and many poker variations.

Kay moved to Brookings, SD in 2014.  In Brookings, Kay played in the handbell choir at First Methodist Church and bridge at every opportunity. Kay often treated friends with meals and baked goods.

Kay passed quietly at home surrounded by family on July 17, 2022. She was a great daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, mentor, and friend.  She will be missed.