Carol Marie Perkins

KNOXVILLE - Carol Marie Perkins died on 6 September 2023 at the age of 83 years. She was born on 19 February 1940, to the Rev. Earl Gustafson and Ruth Elaine (Laurence) Gustafson. The parents preceded her in death in1965 and 2002. Also preceding her in death was her only sibling Shirley Ruth Johnson in 2010, and the birth father of Carol’s two birth children, Charles H. Carlson in 2006. Carol lived an exciting childhood, having lived in Illinois, California and Michigan. She graduated from Irondale High School in 1958 and the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in 1961 earning her RN degree. Her interest in traveling was launched, after working in Virginia and Michigan and traveling to Japan and Korea. Traveling continued when Carol married Dr. Phillip E. Perkins in 1973. The family grew to include Phil’s sons, Phillip and Michael. Such fun for everyone to take a motor home trip to Chicago, then the northeast side of the country, and then trips out west, as far as Wyoming. Trips for everyone also to St. John in the Virgin Islands. Carol and Phil enjoyed trips to Europe as well as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado.

In 2014 Carol contracted cancer and in 2023 she suffered a stroke, changing their lives forever. But their faith in God and their love for each other kept them strong. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2023. Surviving Carol are her husband Dr. Phillip Perkins, and their four children, Phillip Perkins, Knoxville; Kirsten (Carlson) Solmos (Dr. Gene Solmos), Wilmette IL; Michael Perkins, Scottsdale AZ; and Barry Carlson (Julie Levine Carlson) of Arlington Heights, IL. Also surviving are several nephews, nieces, cousins, nine grandchildren (from the Solmos Family Catherine, Brian, Michael, William, John, Joseph and Mary Grace, and from the Carlson Family Matthew and Sydney) and a special cousin Jayne Willbur. Funeral Mass to be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church on 18 September 2023 at 11:00 a.m., with viewing at 10:00 a.m.. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. in the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on Gov. John Sevier Highway, Knoxville.