ORONO – Bessie Perkins Chaisson, 93, passed away peacefully from heart failure Sept. 24, 2011, at a Bangor hospital. She was born July 3, 1918, in Orono, the daughter of Harry and Hattie (Carr) Perkins.
Bessie graduated from high school in Orono. In early years, she worked in the shoe industry and enjoyed going dancing with her friends. Bessie married her husband, Paul Chaisson, in 1946 and became a homemaker and devoted wife to him for 40 years until his death. She was also a loving and much beloved mother and grandmother. Bessie was well traveled, living in Jerusalem, several states and multiple cities in Maine, and having tea in England, before moving back to Orono permanently in the 1950s. She also enjoyed wintering in Florida. She had a mischievous sense of humor and loved to beat anyone at playing cards. She also liked to play bingo and chess, enjoyed reading, loved watching poker and cooking shows on TV, and solved many crossword puzzles.
In addition to her parents and husband, Bessie was predeceased by her sister, Alice; and brothers, Golden “Buster” and Arthur. She is survived by her loving daughter, Ruthie; and granddaughter, Betty McLaughlin, both of Orono; her special niece, Betty McTigue of Bangor; nephews, great-nephews, great-nieces; and Bear, “the best dog yet.”
A graveside service will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Riverside Cemetery, Orono. A service of Brookings-Smith, Orono Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.