Jacqueline (Jackie) Lawton Stone Perkin passed away peacefully in Starke, Florida on April 17, 2015. She was a resident at Parkside Assisted Living. Prior to moving to Parkside, Jackie was a resident of Brook Ridge Retirement Community in Pharr, Texas. Jacqueline was born in McAllen, Texas on August 27, 1926 and lived most of her life in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (San Juan, Edinburg, and Pharr). She was the daughter of John Lawton Stone and Eunice Musgrave Stone. Jackie was a 1943 graduate of Pharr-San Juan- Alamo High School. She attended Edinburg Junior College and Stephens College and received her undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Texas at Austin. Jackie married Willis Gladstone Perkin, an attorney in Edinburg and Pharr. Willis practiced law with the firm of Hartley, Alamia, Perkin, and Lemen and passed away in 1969.Jackie retired in 1991 from the Texas Department of Human Services where she worked with the Food Stamp Program. She also worked at Sam Houston and Robert E. Lee elementary schools and was a full-time homemaker for many years as well.Jackie was a long time member of the United Methodist Church in Pharr, Texas. She was a volunteer for the churchs food pantry and was the courtesy Chairman for the Mary-Martha Circle. Jackie was a generous person and gave to numerous charitable causes as well as to the church. She was a member of the Friends of the Pharr Library and volunteered in the bookstore.Reading was Jackies favorite hobby and she shared her love of reading with many. She had a fantastic wit and sense of humor. She loved living on the Mexican border and especially enjoyed the wonderful Mexican food. She was foremost a wonderful mother, grandmother, and aunt. Her family and friends will miss her greatly. The family wishes to extend its sincere thanks for all the wonderful individuals at Parkside Assisted Living facility who gave care, love, and support to Jackie over the past years.Jackie is survived by: her daughter, Judy Perkin of Starke; her grandchildren: Matthew Bates of Orlando, Florida, Ryan Bates of Lynn Haven, Florida, and Karla (Heather) Bates of Columbia, South Carolina. Also left behind are her sister-in-law Katherine Stone of San Antonio, Texas, her step-sister Connie Alsop (George) of Corpus Christi, Texas and nieces and nephews - Lisa Mattson (Kurt Zermuehlen) of Bergheim, Texas, Lauren Stone of Del Rio, Texas, Margaret Ann (Marvin) Kennedy of Corpus Christi, Texas, Rick Perkin (Patty) of Colorado City, Texas, and Mary Jo Jones (Bill) of Mesquite, Texas. Jackie lost her loving son-in-law Homer Lee Bates on April 8, 2015.Burial will take place at the Raymondville Memorial Park Cemetery. A graveside service will be held in late December 2015 in Raymondville and a celebration of life service will be held at St. Marks Episcopal Church of Starke later this year. Family and friends will be informed of the dates and times.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to: The Friends of the Pharr Memorial Library, 121 E. Cherokee St., Pharr, Texas 78577; The Museum of South Texas History, 200 N. Closner Blvd., Edinburg, Texas 78541; or St. Marks Episcopal Church of Starke, P.O. Box 487, Starke, Florida 32091 (Audiovisual Fund or Priests Discretionary Fund should be specified). Arrangements in Florida are being handled by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home of Starke at 904-964-6200 and on-line condolences may be left at www.jonesgallagher.com. Arrangements in Texas are being handled by the Skinner-Silva Funeral Home of Pharr at 956-787-2244. hide