Malcolm W. Perkins

Malcolm W. Perkins, 92 Westbrook â€“ Malcolm W. Perkins, 92, passed away June 5, 2013 in Portland. Malcolm was born September 18, 1920, in Saco. He was the fourth child of Frank and Elizabeth Perkins. While growing up, Malcolm attended Burns Grammar School. It was there he would first encounter a girl by the name of Dorothy Butland. Dotty, as she was known, had a crush on Malcolm all through school, though he never realized it. Shortly after enlisting in the navy, Malcolm noticed a fellow sailor writing a letter to someone back home. Next to the envelope was a photograph of a beautiful young woman. â€œWho is that?â€ Malcolm asked him. â€œThatâ€™s my girl, Dotty,â€ the young man answered proudly. â€œI know her,â€ Malcolm told him, then added, â€œWhen we get home, Iâ€™m going to steal her away from you, and marry her.â€ A few months later, Malcolm and Dorothy were walking down a Saco street hand in hand when he asked her, â€œIf I bought you an engagement ring, would you wear it?â€ Elated, Dotty immediately said yes. It would be many years before she would know that his proposal had been far from spontaneous. Malcolm and Dotty married in 1946. They welcomed a baby daughter, Norma, the following year. The family lived in Saco until 1964, when they moved to Scarborough. After working as an interior house painter for many years, Malcolm opened his own painting company in 1968. This wouldnâ€™t be his last business venture, however. One afternoon later that year, Malcolm came home and announced that he had bought the motel across the street from the familyâ€™s home. Thatâ€™s just how Malcolm did things â€“ he made up his mind and did them. In 1971, Norma met Daniel Gassett, the man who would become her husband. The following year they too had a baby daughter, named Tammy. Girls would keep surrounding Malcolm until Tammy grew up and married Scot Gagne, giving Malcolm and Dotty a great-grandson named Alec in 1999. Malcolm spent many hours pushing baby carriages, reading bedtime stories, and playing school over the years. He was one of the most amazing husbands, fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers a family could ask for. While he accomplished many other things in lifetime â€“ pretty much everything he set his mind to, these are the things for which his family will always remember him. Malcolm was predeceased by his parents and four siblings, his wife Dotty of 59 years, and his son-in-law Danny. Surviving are his daughter Norma, his granddaughter Tammy and her husband Scot, and a great-grandson Alec â€“ who all miss him very much already. The family would like thank the Barron Center for caring for Malcolm in his final days. At Malcolmâ€™s request, there will be no funeral. To express on-line condolences please go to www.blaisandhayfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Malcolmâ€™s name can be made to: Alzheimerâ€™s Association, Maine Chapter 383 US Route 1, Suite 2C Scarborough, ME 04074