Pearle S. Perkins died of natural causes at her home in West Tisbury on Feb. 9. She was 97.

Born in Maroa, Ill. on Feb. 26, 1919, she attended Illinois State Normal University, majoring in speech and debate. She married John Lafayette Perkins in 1941 and the couple settled in Columbus, Ohio. The family moved to the Chicago area in 1957, where Pearle was a homemaker, then sold real estate in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs for several years. She and the family attended The First Presbyterian Church of La Grange where she sang in the choir for 33 years. After retiring, she volunteered at Memorial Hospital in Western Springs, Ill. Shortly after her husband’s death, Pearle moved to Bristol, R.I. to be closed to her daughter and son in law. She resided at North Farm in Bristol for 24 years before relocating tot he Vineyard in 2014.

A dedicated and unwavering Ohio State and Chicago Bears fan, Pearle cheered her teams with passion through winning and losing seasons. She loved the ocean and the magnificent sailing schooners that navigate the seas. She surrounded herself with paintings and prints of the ocean and ships by her favorite artist, Charles Vickery, whom she commissioned to do a special sunset painting. Mr. Vickery often painted his works accompanied by pianist Hazel Troeger. Ms. Troeger was the major influence on Pearle’s daughter Jan, who pursued her career in music education and teaches at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

Pearle was an avid reader of all genres, often reading two or more books at a time. Her debating experience contributed to her excellent vocabulary and made her an interesting and entertaining conversationalist. She was an expert at word games, Scrabble, and crossword puzzles. She also spent much time crocheting and, as a lefty, taught herself to knit, making sweaters, afghans, place mats, hats, coasters, and scarves, and creating many baby blankets for friends and relatives. She loved playing the piano, singing, listening to music, and attending concerts and musical productions in Chicago, Boston, Providence, New York, and London. Another of her joys was traveling. She and her husband went to Europe and South America and on cruises with real estate groups, and she spent many holidays in the Caribbean with her husband, daughter, and son in law. Paris and Barbados were her particular favorites.

She was predeceased by her husband, John L. Perkins, and daughter Sandra Kay Hall, and survived by daughter Jan Wightman and her husband John of Aquinnah and grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews from around the country. Pearle was a person of strong moral and ethical values, possessing a generous spirit, and was always a lady who conducted herself with grace. She was loved by all who had the good fortune to know her. The one word that many people used to describe her was amazing.

Her family thanks Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation facility, Horizons Geriatric Care Management, Pearle’s wonderful caregivers, and the Hope Hospice staff for helping her family make her last few years here on the Vineyard comfortable and rewarding. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Pearle’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, through the memorial and honor gifts form at stjude.org.