William Swain “Bill” Perkins, 77, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 15, 2023.
Bill was born in Springfield, Missouri to William and Lena (Swain) Perkins on July 15, 1945.
Bill attended Koshkonong schools exceling in baseball, basketball and band. He then attended Arkansas State University playing baseball through college and serving as President of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha. Bill started law school at the University of Arkansas where he gained lifelong friends and thereafter, returned home to practice law with Pat Freeman.
During that same time period, Bill met Karen Carhart and they were married March 11, 1972.
Over the next 40 years, Bill practiced law in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas while Karen worked together with him running the Eleven Point River Title Company. Bill was involved in politics serving as a Missouri Delegate in 1976 at the Democratic Convention selecting Jimmy Carter to run for President. During the course of his career, Bill served as Prosecuting Attorney for Oregon County and City Attorney for Thayer along with representing many clients from the surrounding communities in his private practice. Bill was a Member of The Missouri Bar and Masonic Lodge, Shriner, Past-President and Paul Harris Fellow for the Thayer-Mammoth Spring Rotary Club, longtime supporter of the Thayer Bobcats sports teams and Vestry Member at All Saints Episcopal Church in West Plains. Bill loved the St. Louis Cardinals, riding around the farm and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Karen G. Perkins; children, Lauren Perkins Allen and William Clayton Perkins (his wife,Laura); and grandchildren, Ella, Rainey and Sydney.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Union Hill Cemetery.
