Joe Dan Perkins passed away after a long hospital stay Nov. 14, 2024. He was born Jan. 18, 1958, in Athens, to parents Marlin Perkins and Georgina Thompson Perkins. He was the fifth of seven children, including six brothers and one sister.
He attended school in Athens and graduated in 1977. In high school he participated in sports, excelling in football and baseball. One of his favorite high school memories was him kicking a game winning field goal against rival team Ennis. The ending score was Athens 3, Ennis 0, which upset Ennis’s unbeaten record for the season.
After graduating, Joe worked in construction and attended Henderson County Junior College.  He then began working in the roof truss business and after twelve   years, changed jobs and became employed by Solar Turbines. Twenty years later, he retired. 
Joe was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Johnny, Marlin, Bobby and Randy Perkins. 
He leaves behind his wife of forty years Lisa Atherton Perkins, daughter Emily Perkins Petty and son-in-law Wade Petty and grandson James “Dylan” Petty (JDP), all of Mabank, sister Darlene Perkins of Cross Roads, Wayne Perkins of Athens, brother-in-law Layne Atherton and wife Gina of Mabank and nephews Doug Perkins, Erik Perkins, Justin Perkins, Zak Perkins, John Perkins, Bo Atherton and Caleb Atherton, along with several great nieces and great nephews and cousins. 
Funeral services were held Nov. 20, 2024 at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home. Interment followed at Oaklawn Cemetery in Mabank.