Suzanne J Perley
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LACONIA, NH--- Suzanne J. Perley, 68, of Ledges Drive, passed away at her home after a long heroic battle with cancer on Thursday, November 19, 2020. She was born on February 6, 1952, in Manchester, NH, the daughter of the late Louis and Laurette (Mathieu) Messier.
Suzanne received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire at Durham and a degree in accounting from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. After graduating from UNH she became involved with politics and worked with Senator John Durkin in Washington and Governor Hugh Gallen in NH.
After relocating to the Plattsburgh area of New York in 1989, Suzanne became very involved in many community affairs and organizations true to her nature. Suzanne was appointed by Governor George Pataki to the College Council of the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. She served as councilwoman for the town of Essex for many years as well as the Town of Essex Zoning and Shoreline Review Committee and was the recipient of the Pomeroy Award for Zoning Achievement for revising the town zoning laws. Suzanne was a corporation member of the Champlain Valley Physician's Hospital in Plattsburgh, chairwoman and member of the Board of Directors of Elizabethtown Community Hospital and the Smith House Health Care Center. She compiled and produced " Essex New York, An Early History" for the Belden Noble Memorial Library in Essex, and was director of the Paine Memorial Free Library in Willsboro. Suzanne was director and treasurer of the Willsboro Development Corporation and director and treasurer of the Willsboro Senior Housing Corporation. While there, she prepared a large, successful grant for building senior housing in Willsboro. Suzanne savored her work with the Essex County Adirondack Garden Club and the Garden Club of America, receiving many awards and commendations. Suzanne was recipient of the Essex County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award for public service to the community.
When relocating to Laconia, New Hampshire, in 2006, Suzanne also enjoyed her work with multiple organizations, including the Zoning Board of Adjustment of Belknap County and the Zoning Task Force. She relished her time as Treasurer of the WOW Trail and the Lake Opechee Preservation Association. She was also actively involved with the Opechee Garden Club and was a New Hampshire Master Gardener and enjoyed beautifying many gardens around Belknap County. In 2016 she was recipient of the New Hampshire Planning Federation Citizen Planner of the Year Award.
Suzanne is survived by her loving husband, John S. Perley of Laconia; two brothers, Richard Messier of Bedford, NH and Philip Messier of Gig Harbor, WA; three sisters, Pauline Lareau and Linda Drew of Manchester, NH, and Denise Paquette of California; and a niece, Melanie McDonough, of Lebanon, NH.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made in Suzanne's memory to the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 7312, Gilford, NH, 03247-7312.