Alton, NH

Ruth A. Messier, age 86, was called home to be with the Lord on March 12th, 2017, after a short battle with ovarian cancer.

She was born in Laconia, NH on July 3, 1930, to her parents James and Agnes Dionne.

"Ruthie" was an exceptional person. Over her life she worked many jobs, but none were as important to her as the job of raising her children. She was a devoted, loving, caring mom who will never be forgotten. In addition she worked as a newspaper reporter, in Connecticut for a few years and then she ran The Yarn and Thread Shed (a branch of the American Thread Co.) in Willimantic, CT for about 10 years. As her children were growing up in CT she was elected and served on the Board of Education for Parish Hill High School in Hampton, CT. Ruth was very creative and had numerous hobbies, which included the beading and decorating of goose and duck eggs, canning enough food every year from our garden, to feed an army throughout the winter and creating many prize winning recipes that many enjoy today.

In 1975, when the family moved to Alton, NH, she quickly became involved in town politics, social events, the Alton Historical Society and many other local committees, where she stayed active until her death. She was employed at NHBB during the late 1970"s. She also waitressed at several establishments, including, Dot's Lunch, Foxy Johnnies and Edgewood. Ruth always enjoyed being involved in local politics. She was elected to the Budget Committee several times. Ruth was a very strong woman who fought for what she believed in and even if you didn't agree with her stance you certainly respected her conviction. For the past few years she has been a trustee for the Gilman Library in Alton, which is a position she enjoyed immensely.

Ruth had many passions including her love of dolls. She was a founding member of the Happy Hobby Doll Club of Alton where she remained a member until her death. She loved country music and taught line dancing at the Community Center in Alton for years. She took ballet her entire childhood and always spoke of the fond memories associated with it. Her husband Bill enjoyed dancing as much as she did and boy, they could really cut a rug. Whenever and where ever they started to dance everyone else would clear the floor to watch. It really was an inspiring sight. No matter what she was doing Ruth enjoyed life and lived it to it's fullest. She was an amazing loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, daughter, sister and friend who is going to be terribly missed. Ruth has touched and impacted many lives during her years and was fondly recognized for her trademark raccoon hat, in her local community.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Bill and her sons: David Walker, Greg and Gene Walker, her sister Jeannie Brough and parents James and Agnes Dionne. Survivors include: Gordon Walker Jr. and his wife Peggy of Belmont, Bill Messier and his wife Shirley of Hooksett, Marie Perkins and her husband Hilton of Laconia, Suzanne Messier of Rochester, Terry Kimball and husband Mark of Laconia and Lynn Atwood and her husband Tom of Alton. Twenty grandchildren, Thirty-three great-grand children and countless nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.

Calling hours are Thursday March 16, 2017 at Peaslee Alton Funeral Home, 12 School Street, Alton, NH from 2-4pm with a service at 4pm by Rev. Robert F. Cole. Urn interment will be in the spring at New Riverside Cemetery in Alton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made, in Ruth's name, to the Gilman Library in Alton, NH.