Louise Ijams' Obituary
Louise Perkinson Harrison Ijams, 96, died peacefully on June 2, 2014. She was born on December 2, 1917 in Asheville, North Carolina, the eldest of six children of Seth Jones Perkinson and Lela Young Perkinson. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Major Richard F. Harrison, a USMC pilot who was killed in action during WWII (1945). She was married for 53 years to Dr. Charles Carroll Ijams, faculty and Chair of the Physics Department at the University of Memphis, until his death in 2000. Louise graduated from Lee Edwards High School in Asheville and Mars Hill College (1938). She left the mountains of North Carolina to live and work in Washington, DC where she met her first husband, Richard, and Carroll after Richard’s death. She and Carroll moved to Memphis in 1947 when he joined the faculty of Memphis State College. Louise and Carroll were enthusiastic supporters of Memphis State (the University of Memphis) where she was a Charter Member and President of the University Wives Club. She and Carroll were faithful members of Idlewild Presbyterian Church and the LeMaster Class where Louise played the piano for many years. Throughout her life, she shared her love of flowers by making arrangements from the Sunday altar flowers for the homebound members of Idlewild. She was an active member of the Military Officer’s Wives Club and the Eastwood Home and Garden Club where she served as President. Louise and Carroll traveled extensively throughout the world, but she was happiest when she was in Asheville and in Memphis, surrounded by her family. She is survived by three sisters, Katherine Lyda, Mildred Young and Dorothy Kress, and one brother, Seth Perkinson, all of Asheville. She was predeceased by her brother, Carl Perkinson. Louise was a loving wife and mother who raised her children by example. She is survived by her two daughters, Lola Harrison Llewellyn (Robert) and Carolyn Ijams Simonton (Greer); four grandchildren Charles Llewellyn (Cobbie), Kristina Speros Hyde (Drew), Alexis Speros Powers (John) and Katherine Llewellyn Lohman (Justin). Her pride and joy were her seven great grandchildren whom she adored – Katherine, Anna and Bess Llewellyn, Drew and Addison Hyde, Cassidy Powers, and Emily Lohman. She considered her family to be her greatest treasure. Louise was loved by all who knew her for her good humor, optimism, kindness, and grace. We will miss her sweet smile and the twinkle in her eye as she blows us a kiss good-bye. The family will receive friends from 10 am to 11 am on June 6, 2014 in the parlor at Idlewild Presbyterian Church prior to a memorial service for her in the Chapel. Graveside services for the family will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Idlewild Presbyterian Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, 901-767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”.
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