Jeanette Harvey Iams Perkey, 98, passed away on March 14, 2015, at Westminster Village, Muncie, Ind.

Jeanette was born Dec. 30, 1916, near Graysville, Pa., to Samuel Hawkins Harvey and Irene Carter Harvey, who are deceased. She married Samuel G. Iams on July 10, 1940, and they enjoyed 42 years of marriage before his passing in 1982. She then married Rolland Perkey in 1991, who also is deceased.

Surviving are her son, Dr. Samuel Gregory Iams (Debbie), Greenville, N.C.; her daughter, Sara Iams Mitchell (Joe), Muncie, grandchildren, Andrew Burkhart, St. Petersburg, Fla., Kathryn Mitchell Richter (John), Angola, Ind., Allison Mitchell, Denver, Colo., and Samantha Iams, Greenville, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Harrison, Heidi and Hawkins Richter; several nieces and nephews; a stepson, Doyle Perkey (Ann), Bryan; and her special friend and family by choice, Hester Mitchell.

Also deceased are her brother, Samuel Harvey; sisters, Evelyn McDonald, Margaret Stewart, Josephine Kinney and Kathryn Harvey; and daughter, Nancy Iams Burkhart.

She graduated from Rogersville High School at 17, attended Waynesburg College (now university) and started teaching school at the age of 19. Jeanette attended several colleges while working toward her college degree, including Duke, Ohio Northern and Eastern Michigan. Jeanette graduated from Waynesburg College in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in education.

While living in Pennsylvania, she taught at Claylick, Goodwin and Harvey schools, all one-room schools. She was the last teacher at Goodwin and Harvey Schools. After getting married, the family moved in 1956 to Celina, where Jeanette taught kindergarten at Celina West Elementary School for 21 years. She loved teaching and her students were very important to her.

After retirement, Jeanette and Sam moved to Bradenton, Fla., where Jeanette taught preschool for two years. She married Rolland Perkey in 1991 and relocated to Muncie, Ind., in 1998.

Jeanette loved to travel and had a true zest for life. She visited all 50 states and many foreign countries. At the age of 72, she went white water rafting on the Snake and Colorado rivers and rode horseback in Montana. She enjoyed church activities, gardening, walking, socializing and playing games and cards, but her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

Jeanette was a woman of strong faith and could quote much of the Bible from memory. After moving to Muncie, she attended Riverside United Methodist Church. Though small in stature, Jeanette's passing will leave a big hole in the world. She will be missed by many.

A memorial celebration of Jeanette's life will be held at a later date at the Memorial Garden of Christ United Methodist Church, Bradenton, Fla.

Memorials may be directed to The American Heart Association, Disabled American Veterans, Habitat for Humanity, Macular Degeneration Authority or the charity of the donor's choice.

Condolences may be sent to www.meeksmortuary.com.

The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.