Obituary for Charles “Gus” Perkins: January 8, 1932 to January 10, 2025

On Friday, January 10, we lost a kind and gentle man. Charles “Gus” Perkins was born at home to Albert and Anna Thomas Perkins on January 8, 1932, in Yerington, Nevada. Six older siblings were awaiting his birth – George, Ann, Ed, Dan, Jo, and Nancy. He also grew up with a just-younger niece Belva whose mother died in childbirth.

Gus worked many jobs, starting at the age of 10. Some of those included collecting empty coal sacks for the man who sold coal, working for Recanzones at the Yerington Dairy and The Emporium, and working for the Hillygus family in their gas station. We always heard that he washed dishes for our mother starting when he was 6, but he later changed that to when he was in intermediate school. No matter which, for as long as mom lived, he did dishes for her. Maybe that was because he always told us that our mom was the smartest and prettiest girl in the school!

During high school, Gus competed in football, basketball, and track. He was class president for two years, and served on the student council. Gus graduated from Yerington High School in 1950.

After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he attended the University of Nevada on the GI Bill. While at the University, he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1957.

Gus married the love of his life, Jacklyn McGowan, on June 11, 1955. Dad then continued to do dishes for her for most of the next 60 years until she passed away in 2015. Our father was a hard-working and committed provider for the family, and, in the early years of our parents’
marriage, he was known to work three jobs at one time. Two of those included working at the Washoe County Assessor’s office during the day and at Hale’s Drugstore at night. Around 1961, he became a full-time real estate appraiser for First National Bank of Nevada. He worked there through the changes of FNB becoming First Interstate Bank (FIB) and then Wells Fargo. After more than 30 years, he retired from the bank and was a real estate appraiser in private practice for a number of years.

Gus was a long-time member and president of the Sierra Sunrise Toastmasters Club. He was a member of the University of Nevada Alumni Council and served as president of the Alumni Association in 1970-1971.

Gus enjoyed spending time with his family camping, fishing, pinenut hunting, visiting family and friends, exploring with Jackie in their RV, playing a little bridge and a little golf, providing transportation for his grandchildren, and, in his older years, regularly taking his grown children and other family and friends to lunch. He will be sorely missed by many.

Gus was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie; his parents, Albert and Anna; his siblings and their spouses. Survivors include his four children, Kim Miller (Mitch); Chuck Perkins (Bev), Jack Perkins (Diana) and Kris Layman (Jeanmarie Walsh); grandchildren Brittany Hutchings (Adrian Williams), Ryan Miller (Micah), Jordan Miller, Lyndsey Patton (Brennan), Jamie Perkins (Cassandra Whitton), Rachel Perkins, Andrew Layman and Devin Layman (Caroline Tarallo), as well as four great-grandchildren: London,Sean, Colton, and Noah.

A celebration of life will be held for Gus on Tuesday, February 18, at 11:00 AM at The Elm Estate, 1401 W. Second Street, Reno. In lieu of flowers, you may wish to donate to the Lyon County Museum, 215 So. Main Street, Yerington, NV 89447; The Empower Collective, 550 W. Plumb Lane , #B117, Reno, NV, 89509 (Zelle: TEC@empowernil.com ), or a charity of your choice.

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