Christie

The world lost a beautiful soul: Christie Lynne Paxton Perkins.  The sweetest sister-in-law on the planet passed away 4/26/18 at home at 5:01pm.  I love you Christie for the example you set, for the fun we had, for your words of wisdom on your blog HowPerkyWorks.com, and for your just being you.  You are a beautiful soul inside and out and I am certain you passed this life with flying colors.  You lived with grace and you helped others along the way.  That is what life is all about.  Well done sister and I look forward to your help along the way.  I will keep you in my heart until we meet again.

Christie, born 11/28/78, was the middle child in the Paxton family.  Her parents are Marvin Paxton and Vickie Lynne Hayes Paxton. Bryan is the oldest, then Christie was the middle child (and only girl!), followed by Scott.  She graduated Cedar City High School in 1997 and worked at the SUU Bookstore.  She met Daryl Scott Perkins at Institute during the summer after graduation and married him a year later on 6/6/98 in the St. George Temple.

Her husband Scott Perkins and her 4 boys: Barrek (16), Kasen (14), Camron (11), and Hudson (7) survive her.  Plus her parents Marv and Vickie Paxton and her 2 brothers- Bryan and Scott.

Christie was an amazing person.  She always made everyone feel important.  She played games with her kids, played basketball with her lady friends, and stargazed with her boys in the backyard while laying on the trampoline. She was nearly always happy and always looked pretty with big earrings and cute shoes to match.  She genuinely cared about others and people were drawn to that. She was an awesome mom.  She was always there for her kids.  She was a good cook, tidy housekeeper, nice decorator- an upbeat gal.  She put on her happy face even if she wasn't feeling it (because of chemo and illness). She had an amazingly positive attitude throughout her 5 years of cancer.  She had the cutest laugh. She let her light shine.  She was amazing. She had the gift of making everyone feel like they were her best friend and favorite person.

The 3 things she felt the most guilty over were 1)Running a stop sign - which she confessed to her Bishop. 2)Signing her husband's name on his paycheck- which she immediately met with the bank manager and they assured her it was fine because they had a joint account and offered her candy to console her. 3)Moving down to some better seats at the LA Dodgers baseball game during the last few innings- which she wrote them a letter and offered to pay the difference.  They never wrote back. She lived nearly a perfect life, and fixed what she thought was wrong.  Impressive!

Some memories I have of her:  The community came together and did a Crazy for Christie fundraiser and she was genuinely touched when we surprise attended.  She loved bargains and proudly bought clothes at thrift stores.  And she looked good in them too!  She liked styling Makayla's hair and did some cool dos.  She led a duct tape purse making activity at camp, where she helped Makayla make me a taped bag for my birthday present.  We danced to "Party in the USA" on a pontoon boat at Fish Lake.  She loved playing games.  She was fun! She was beautiful inside and out- even when she was bald; still was pretty.  (Makayla drew this picture.) She loved white daisies, dead trees, and orange sunsets.  Really loved the color orange.  Even requested orange lining in her casket.

Her 2 most recent favorite songs were Charlie Puth's "One Call Away" and Ingrid Michaelson's "Be Okay".  And wouldn't you know it, I was yelling at my boys to get their shoes on right when she passed.  I felt so guilty that my anger prevented her from visiting us on her way out.  On our way to dinner (taking my parents out for my dad's retirement), Scott reached over and turned on the radio.  "One Call Away" was on, less than 30 minutes after she passed away.  We cried as we drove on the freeway and listened to her song and know Christie was saying goodbye to us. What a beautiful soul!

 A very touching moment I will always remember was a few days before she passed.  She took her dad's hand and told him he was the best dad she could have asked for.  There is a story where they were all driving up to Salt Lake City and were on the freeway in between Cedar City and SLC.  Marv, who was behind the wheel, started choking and was losing control of the car.  Christie prayed very earnestly and promised Heavenly Father if He would help them be safe and protect them from a wreck, that she would be the best little girl and mind her daddy for the rest of her life.  They were safe afterall.  Listening to Christie and Marv's exchange as they both validated each other on a life well lived, was very special. I felt privileged to be there in that moment and witnessed a rare and awesome event.
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Christie's viewing was on Friday, May 4th.  We gathered at her church and greeted friends and family.  She had the longest line I have ever seen for a viewing, wrapping down the halls of the church.  Luminaries led from the church to the Perkin's home, half a mile away.

Her funeral was Saturday, May 5th.  All of it was beautiful.  Some highlights were listenting to stories like how she left her curling iron on and almost burned down the house when it melted into the carpet and nearly ignited a large stuffed animal won from Lagoon.  Also, she went with some young married girls to the cemetery once and rolled down the window and shouted "Boo" and waved her arms, because she wanted some fun in her life since she got married so fast out of high school.  She was able to go with her husband  to Germany and visit her parents while they were on their mission.  There were beautiful castles around, yet Christie was taking pictures of dead trees; one of her loves.

Christie's story and legacy will live on through her cancer blog: HowPerkyWorks.com.  She was an inspiration worldwide and testified of Heavenly Father's love for her and offered inspirational thoughts and a clear perspective.

Quoted from Christie's blog, "Death is not a result of giving our all.  It is living our all so that at death we cannot fall."  Also, "As we take the effort to learn about our ancestors (to do their temple work and read their stories) we will feel a connection to them.  And one day when we really need their help, a little whispering will filter through and touch our hearts and we will just know what to do.  Because someone before has been there, done that.  And the other side will meddle in your moments."

Christie, I invite you to meddle in my moments and guide and help me on my way.  I love you!