SOUTH PARIS – Ina Perkins Brown, a lifelong resident of Oxford, died peacefully on Jan. 25, 2023, at the age of 96.

Ina was born on June 20, 1926, at the family farm in Oxford. She was the daughter of Merle and Olive (nee Marcotte) Perkins. She grew up on the farm with her eight brothers and sisters. She graduated from Oxford High School in 1941. As a young woman she worked at Longley’s Hardware and Schiavi’s on Main Street in Norway. She married Marshall Brown on Oct. 16, 1948. Other than brief residences in Florida and Connecticut, she lived her whole life in Oxford. She raised three children, David, Annette and Jerry.

Ina enjoyed working with her hands. She was an avid baker, gardener and knitter. Ina donated nearly a hundred pairs of mittens per year to Oxford Santa, baby sweater sets to the Hospital Auxiliary, and mittens and hats to Oxford Elementary School and Responsible Pet Care, all while keeping her extended family supplied with beautifully knitted items. She also was skilled at caning chairs and did so for the Oxford Library, where she was at one time a Trustee. Ina was a Brownie leader when her daughters were in elementary school and volunteered to help with many school activities. After her children were grown, Ina worked as a clerk at the Oxford Town Office.

Ina is survived by her sister, Sarah Perkins; her daughters, Jerry Wax (Joe) of Oxford and Annette Bushman (Rick) of Rose Valley, Pa.; her grandchildren, Tyler Wax, Ashley Armstrong (nee Wax), Marshall Bushman and Joyslin Bushman; and her great granddaughters, Lilliana Armstrong and Addison Armstrong. She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 50 years, Marshall; and her beloved son David.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Stephens Memorial Hospital and the Maine Veterans Home for the excellent care they provided in her final days.

Services are to be held at Oxford Hills Funeral Services, 1037 Main Street, Oxford, on Saturday, Feb. 11. Visiting is from 10 to 11 a.m., and a service will follow at 11 a.m. Online condolences may be shared with her family at http://www.oxfordhillsfuneralservice.com

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to:

your local library