Kathleen Siler Perruci

Kathleen Siler Perruci died peacefully in Marietta on August 2, 2026, at the age of 63. She was surrounded by family in her home after months of living with cancer. Kathleen was born to Patricia Ann Siler and Richard Keith Siler in Honolulu, HI in 1963. She grew up in Seabrook, TX, where her father worked as a meteorologist at NASA Johnson Space Center. Her childhood was adventurous, watching rocket launches and taking trips in the family Piper Cub to vacation destinations across the country. Kathleen excelled academically—after graduating from Clear Lake High School in 1981, she double-majored in journalism and history at Baylor University as a National Merit Scholar. There, Kathleen met another student journalist named Gamaliel Perruci, Jr., and they married on December 21, 1985.
Gama’s career as a professor brought them to Marietta in 1999, where Kathleen built a close community of friends through her book club and church. She impacted Washington Elementary students by volunteering at the school and with her church’s after-school program. Her compassion for her neighbors was reflected in the meal train program that she established at Christ United Methodist Church to help members through difficult life events. The holiday season was usually spent preparing for Handel’s Messiah, which she sang in for over 20 years. In warmer months, her home was known for the daffodils, hibiscus, and towering zinnias she grew in the front yard.
Kathleen’s favorite part of life was raising her three children: Caroline Perruci, Rebecca (Chris) Payne, and Alex (Sara) Perruci. She shared her lifelong love of American history with them through educational family vacations, including a month-long camping excursion across the American West. Her passion for film also ensured that her children had a selective education in classic movies, and many lines became part of the household language. Her children remember her as their biggest cheerleader, celebrating their major life milestones and little day-to-day achievements alike. They could always count on her to assist in ways big and small, like helping Caroline make tea sales at the local farmers’ market. Her grandchildren knew her as “Lala,” a beloved and equally devoted grandmother who took so much joy in seeing them grow and learn.
Kathleen is survived by her children; two young granddaughters, Adalynn and Meredith Perruci; and her brothers, Richard (Jennifer) Siler and John (Becca) Siler. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother, Mark Siler.
Kathleen services will be announced at a later date. McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home is assisting the family and messages of sympathy may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.