WESTPORT N.Y. — Shirley Perkins (Hormel) Bullard died on Feb. 15, 2021. She was a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Vermont. She was a Speech and Language Pathologist with a special interest in neurogenetic communication disorders. In addition to her professional career, she served as a deacon in Protestant churches in Saxtons River and Orwell, Vt., and in Westport, N.Y.
Shirley was an expert volunteer panelist for the New York State Surrogate Decision Making Committee. She loved to sing. She had lived in many places and joked that the voice is the most portable instrument of all. She sang with the Hospice Chrysalis Singers, the “Tuesday Choir” at Essex Center and the Pleasant Valley Chorale. She served on the library board in Shoreham, Vt., and in Westport, N.Y.
Shirley was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Oct. 30, 1941, the second child of Jack Walton Perkins and Cora Lee Garten Perkins. Survivors include her sister, Sylvia Perkins Hoffman of Tempe, Ariz.; her daughters Sandra Hormel Julius of South Burlington, Vt., and Sharon Hormel Hurd of Baltimore, Md.; her son-in-law Todd Julius of Burlington; and her beloved grandchildren, Matthew Julius, Kate Julius and Andrew Hurd.
In 1983, Shirley married James Richard Bullard in Shoreham, Vt. They enjoyed 38 years together. They retired to Westport, N.Y., in 1998 and thrived on many volunteer activities, always nourished by love and laughter. Celebrations of Shirley’s life will have to be postponed during this terrible pandemic, but donations in Shirley’s memory can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or any local library.
P.S. Shirley was a planner, so (of course) she wrote the above, but she gave us permission to “embellish” so we will. She was crazy smart, witty and kind. She was Oklahoma through and through — practical and stoic, until she wasn’t and would dissolve in laughter. She was a co-conspirator to Sandy and Sharon and an endless fountain of support to us and her many, many friends. We very much appreciate the deep friendships that she and Jim loved through these many years and appreciate the endless kindness that you’ve shown to us over the last week.◊