Yvonne Harris Permenter

May 17, 1932

December 3, 2023

Yvonne Harris Permenter (91) passed away at Pine Grove Nursing Center after a long illness on December 3. Funeral services were Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 10:00 a.m. Visitationwas one hour prior at the First Methodist Church of Center, officiated by Malcom Monroe and Mary Lynn Tinkle. The interment was at Oaklawn Memorial Park.

Yvonne was born May 17, 1932, in Center. Her father was Austin Harris, and her mother was Ruby Green Harris. She lived most of her life in very close proximity to her birthplace. After she graduated from Center High School at the age of 16, she went to Houston. There she married in 1949 Elvin Permenter, a Huxley boy. This marriage would last for 61 years.

Yvonne Permenter was preceded in death by her husband Elvin, by her parents, by a sister Maggie Harris Strebeck, and by three stepsiblings, Marguerite Harris Kiss, Robert Harris, and Monroe Harris. She is survived by one sister, Johnnye Kraemer of Center.

Much of Yvonne’s life was dedicated to the dairy/cattle farm that she and Elvin maintained. But she also spent many hours with her grandchildren, and later, with her great-grandchildren. That time included many horse shows and rodeos, many ball games, and lots of daisy- picking. But she also gave many years to the service of the First Methodist Church. Besides lots of church camps, lots of field trips, and many pans of chicken spaghetti, her service included her serving as a Sunday School teacher, MYF leader, Bereavement Committee chairperson, acolyte director, church secretary, diaconal minister and as a third and fourth grade director at Lakeview Camp. Yvonne spoke of all these times with fond remembrance. She also worked several years as the office manager at General Shelters of Texas before her “retirement”.

Yvonne was most proud of her two children. James Permenter (Butch) and his wife Deb live in Granbury, Texas. Belinda Loftice and her husband Matt live in Center. James’s family is Michelle Permenter and Julianne Horst of Center, April Miller and her husband Kevin of Melissa, Texas, and Crystal Crews of Midland. Belinda’s children are John Stirman and his wife Robin of Richmond, Texas, and Megan Holt and her husband Wayne of Center. Yvonne’s great-grandchildren are Campbell Beck, Austin Miller, Jake Miller, Madison Stirman, Luke Stirman, Lynleigh Holt, and Rhett Holt.

Pallbearers were Wayne Holt, Tim Kraemer, Tom Kraemer, Kevin Miller, John Stirman, and Rick Strebeck.

Please consider any donations be made to the First Methodist Church of Center.

All of Yvonne’s friends and “church kids” were invited to this celebration of her life.

Online condolences and tributes can be sent at www. watsonandsonsfh.com