Ella Florence Perkins

Ella Florence Perkins, age 86, of Aquilla, passed away late Wednesday afternoon, January 19, 2011 at West Rest Haven in West. Graveside services will be held 12:00 noon Saturday at Rosemound Cemetery in Waco, with Rev. Don Elrod officiating. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Florence was born on December 18, 1924, in Prairie Hill, the daughter of Luke and Frankie Lou (Warr) Beckham. She attended schools in Hallsburg. Ella worked for a bakery in Waco, she was a "Rosie the Riveter" during World War II at the Consolidated Aircraft Plant in Ft. Worth, worked at General Tire and Rubber company in Waco, and worked for the State Headquarters of the Motor Vehicle Division in Austin until her retirement. She then returned to the Hallsburg area before moving to Aquilla to live with her daughter. Florence enjoyed working in the outdoors and especially loved spending time with her family. She is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Leonard Beckham, Roy Lee Beckham, and Henry Beckham. Survivors include a daughter, Frances King and husband Claude of Aquilla; three brothers, Clyde Beckham of Penelope, Maurice Beckham and wife Peggy of Austin and J. L. Beckham of Hot Springs, SD; a sister, Helen Uptmore of Hallsburg; two grandsons, James L. Spicer and wife Alysia of Canyon and Robby L. Spicer and wife Jessica of Bushland; step grandchildren, Aaron King of Oakland, CA, Claudine King of Riley, NC, and Philip King of Waco; four great grandchildren, Justin Spicer, Britlin Spicer, Breanna Spicer and Ashley Spicer; eight step great grandchildren; a great great granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Aquilla Volunteer Fire Department.