Perley Arbella Larsen's Obituary
Perley Arbella Larsen passed away peacefully on August 29, 2019 in Garland, Texas. Perley was born November 17, 1934 to the late Alfred and Florence Eddings in Ink, Missouri. She was the youngest of eleven children and is survived by her sister Ruby (Earl) Walters.In 1974 Perley married Albert (Al) Larsen, the “greatest love and best friend” of her life. Together they shared seven children. Perley is survived by her husband Al Larsen, four sons Samuel (Beth) Billingsley, Michael (Vicky) Billingsley, Daniel Billingsley, Joel (Candace) Billingsley, David (Ingrid) Larsen, Doug (DeeDee) Larsen, and Julie (Terry) Oliver. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren and forty great grandchildren whose joyful memories include special homemade decorated birthday cakes, Easter egg hunts in the back yard, family Christmas photo sessions around the tree, fun craft projects around the kitchen table and wonderfully fun extended family reunion gatherings.Beautiful and vivacious, Perley lived a full life devoted to family, church, and community. Her professional life was dedicated to almost thirty years in civil service. Having started in the mail room at a U.S. munitions plant in Parsons, Kansas she moved her four redheaded boys to Garland, Texas for a better job opportunity and way of life. Perley started as an office clerk for the Army Corps of Engineers during the development and building of the Lake Lavon dam improvement in Wiley, TX. She soon became the office coordinator and only woman working directly with the engineering staff, seeing the project through to completion. She completed her civil service career with a transfer to the U.S. Department of Immigration in down town Dallas.Perley was also very creative and always, it seemed, had a project at hand. She enjoyed painting ceramics, making jewelry, decorating and flower arranging. It was no surprise that she would combine her love of creating beautiful art and her business sense to form her own venture. In the early 1970’s Perley and her husband, Al, partnered a very successful wedding planning and services business appropriately named A Touch of Perley. Together they inspired plans for over four hundred weddings, coordinating everything from photography to complete floral arrangements as well as providing full reception services. Perley was hugely successful in creating beautiful memories for beautiful couples and their families.Perley and Al lived their life together to the fullest. Beyond family and business they shared a joy and excitement of travel. She loved the ski slopes of Colorado and Idaho with church friends. Together she and Al shared an exciting Alaskan cruise, a fabulous trip to Hawaii, and regular visits to the Ozark mountains and Lake Conroe.Perley was deeply devoted to the Lord and to her church. She called Lavon Drive Baptist Church in Garland, Texas her spiritual home. Perley’s many happy years of service to the church included teaching Sunday school for college students, career groups, and young married couples, as well as she and Al providing housing for ministry interns. She thoroughly enjoyed singing in the choir and the lifelong friendships found in the church women’s fellowship group.A visitation time for remembering Perley will be held on Friday, September 6, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243.A celebration of Perley’s life will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Lavon Drive Baptist Church, 1520 Lavon Drive, Garland, TX 75040 and will be followed with a reception. The family will have a private burial service. The family requests in lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Lavon Drive Baptist Church “Reimagine Campaign” at www.lavondrive.org.
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