Verna Periman

Verna "Louise" (Gigi) Periman, 93, of Leawood, KS passed peacefully Monday, April 13, 2015.

Louise was born February 25, 1922 in Centralia, IL to Warren and Verna Waters and lived on the family farm. She rode her pony to Walnut Hill public school, along with her brother Wilfred, and graduated from Centralia High School. She married Marion William "Bill" Periman on July 12, 1940 in Centralia, IL. They started a family just prior to the breakout of WWII when their daughter, Verna Marie, was born and Bill joined the US Army. To see him off to war, Louise obtained a driver's license and drove solo with 3 month-old Verna Marie from Illinois to Ft. Benning, Georgia. Bill served in the Pacific Theatre four years while Louise and Verna lived with Louise's parents' on their farm near Mt. Vernon, IL.

Following the war Bill, Louise and Verna lived on a farm near McLeansboro, IL for 20 years until relocating to Bridgeport, IL where another daughter, Denise, joined the family. Louise became an active contributor to the America Legion Auxiliary, Home Extension, Church and 4-H. After Bill retired from Marathon Oil Co, they enjoyed RV camping and fishing and eventually became snow birds wintering in Titusville, FL with lifelong friends from the Army. Louise moved to Leawood, KS in 2000 and enjoyed a special apartment added to the Rod and Pam Crawford home. She enjoyed fires and cookouts on the patio, meeting Max at the bus after school and preparing after-school snacks for Max and Maggy.

Pastimes included playing pinochle, UNO, bingo, eating fish or fried chicken, Cubs & Royals Baseball, time at the beach watching ships come in and out of port with her Yorkshire Terrier, Alex. She was an accomplished artist who painted at studios in Florida and Kansas. She enjoyed presenting her paintings as well as teaching great granddaughters Maggy and Grace to paint. Louise was a fast adaptor to IT technology and used her iPad and mobile phone for video conferencing and watching sports.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Denise and husband, Bill. She is survived by her daughter, Verna (Bob) Rowland; brother Wilfred Warren Waters; grandchildren Pam (Rod) Crawford, Gail Rowland, Bill (Suzy) Rowland; great grandchildren Maggy & Max Crawford and Grace, Daniel, and August Rowland. Friends and family were very important to Louise and she always made time to spend with them. Louise often enjoyed the flowers and tranquility of the Kauffman Gardens with Granddaughter Gail Rowland. The family would encourage others to visit and enjoy Kauffman Gardens in Kansas City, MO.

In lieu of flowers the family established the Louise Periman Memorial Fund to help individuals with Down syndrome pursue post-secondary education. Checks can be made payable to the family and mailed to the funeral home.

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