In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Mary Lucille Perkins Stevens of Clyde, Texas passed peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on September 26, 2024, after her courageous battle with cancer.  A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother in her 86 years of life.

Mary was born on October 2, 1937, to her parents Floyd & Myrtle Perkins in their family home located in Taylor County, Texas.  Mary spent her childhood alongside her three brothers and three sisters.  Mary attended Abilene High School but found herself swept away by love when she was 17.  She married Jim Stevens on December 11, 1954.  They went on to raise their five children in Abilene, then Clyde, Texas and have several grandchildren and great grandchildren whom they shared countless loving memories with.

Mary spent most of her life as a devoted mother and homemaker, with drawers full of recipes and a home cooked meal to enjoy with her family.  A keeper of memories, pictures line her walls and fill albums and boxes to the brim. Mary had a talent for sewing, making clothing and costumes for her children and grandchildren.  She spent years gardening with her husband, shelling peas on the porch and canning fruits and vegetables.  Her children say the house smelled of vinegar each summer as she would spend time making pickles. Mary also had a deep love for her yard full of bluebonnets come spring each year, ensuring that pictures were taken and that the flowers flourished each year when they arrived.

She began work at Timex in the early 1960's then later began work at Eula ISD in 1979 making lifelong friends that would keep in touch for years following her retirement in 2003.  Mary also enjoyed her role as an Avon consultant, sharing her favorite products with family and friends, even gaining the nickname "the lipstick lady" along the way. She was a devoted member of the Clyde Church of Christ, and in recent years enjoyed spending time with the Women's Widow Ministry sharing a meal and fellowship.

One passion that she shared with us all was her love for antiques.  In 1996, alongside her husband Jim, her sister Dorothy, and brother-in-law Robert, Mary embarked on an exciting journey in the world of antiques establishing their store, The Plaza Corner located in Baird, Texas.  She maintained the store until 2020, keeping her store full of unique finds open to the community and many who came from afar.

Along with many antiques, she has a special love for stamps, bells, and costume jewelry. If you couldn't' find Mary at home, you might catch her with some of her best friends perusing local garage sales to see what treasures she could find. She leaves with us all the curiosity to understand the value of something, big or small, and how something from a small dish to a unique piece of vintage furniture can be so special.

Mary was predeceased by her parents Floyd and Myrtle Perkins; her husband Jim Stevens; her two sisters Dorothy Rupp and Carolyn Gutzke; her three brothers Raymond Perkins, John Wesley Perkins, and Robert Wayne Perkins; her granddaughter Amy Marie Stevens, her great granddaughter Baylee Brooke, and nephew Johnny Glenn Perkins.

She is survived by her sister, Peggy Deen and husband Gerald; her brother-in-law, Robert Rupp; her son, Edd Stevens and wife Ronni of Wynne, Arkansas; her son, James Stevens and Becky Froman of Granbury, Texas; her son, Paul Stevens and wife Tresa of Comfort, Texas; her son, Tommy Stevens of San Antonio, Texas; her daughter, Susan Davis and husband Johnny of Clyde, Texas.  She is also survived by many grandchildren including Amber Higginbotham and husband Jeff, Courtney Worlow, Adrienne Stevens, Austin Stevens and wife Lori, Daniel Stevens and wife Kayla, Keri Perrone and husband Steven, Ashley Salinas and husband Chris, Jessica Ughanze and husband Okwui, Johnny Davis and wife Courtney, and Peyton Davis; and great grandchildren including Andrew, Hailey, Brilynne, Brenleigh, Aiden, Leighton, Liam, Layne, Madison, Mavrick, Weston, Trinity, Logan, Liam, Amara, Quinn, Lylah, Raydon, along with numerous nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 3, 2024, at The Bailey Howard Funeral Home from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Services will then be held at Clyde Church of Christ on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 11:00 am with burial to follow at the Clyde Cemetery.