Kathleen Lee Perron

On November 28 th 1949, Kathleen (Kathy) was born to her parents Joe and Flora Laragan of Ketchum, Idaho, at the Sun Valley Lodge. She was the oldest of three children, with a younger sister, Kim, and their little brother Joey. She loved growing up in the small town of Ketchum and had many fond memories of going ice skating, swimming, and skiing with her father, mother, siblings, and extended family. She loved eating fresh trout that her father would catch daily out of the Big Wood River. Kathy was proud of being a second generation Basque born in America and celebrated her heritage often through Basque dancing and monthly Basque family reunions.

She was a graduate of Wood River High School in Hailey, Idaho, where she was a cheerleader and Homecoming Princess. While attending high school, she was riding her Honda motorcycle around town and noticed she needed some fuel, so she stopped at one of the local service stations. She proceeded to fuel up and told the station attendant that he could charge it to her father, Joe Laragan’s, American Oil account. To which, the station attendant laughed, “it would cost more to charge the account than the fuel was worth!” As she was walking out the door, she told him she didn’t have any money and went on her way. Months later, a Plum Mist 1967 Pontiac GTO caught her eye. Kathy noticed other girls talking to the owner who happened to be that same station attendant, Durg, that she got “free” gas from and she said to herself, ‘I am not going to let those girls drive that car before I do!’ She boldly marched over and asked him, “What time is our date tonight, again?” Durg took her on that date and they were happily married for 53 years.  Before their official engagement, she attended Idaho State University and worked in Washington D.C. as a secretary for Senator Frank Church.

Kathy was a devoted mother to one daughter and five sons and was involved in all aspects of her children's lives and a pillar of support. From attending every sports game to serving as a Cub Scout Den Leader for seventeen years. Every morning, she got her children ready for school, made them breakfast and had family scripture study-all before working her route as a Blaine County School bus driver, which she did for nine years. In keeping with her fun-loving nature, she always made sure to have candy ready to pass out to the kids as they got off the school bus. She was considered a second mother by so many from her nieces and nephews to her son’s friends. She often referred to her home as the “House for Lost Boys” and would welcome anyone who sat at her table with a delicious meal-ensuring they were cared for and well fed. Kathy was always positive, happy and had an amazing outlook and attitude on life and in everything she did, even going through the devastating loss of her fourteen year old son from a motorcycle accident and the death of two grandchildren. Her faith was very important to her and she served in the Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for thirteen years.

Later in life she became a grandma, a role she was made for. Her grandchildren were the light of her life and she knew how to have fun with them, always having her home at the ready with activities and games. It brought her so much joy to take her grandchildren shopping and create lasting memories with them that they will forever cherish.

While battling cancer for seventeen years, she always remained true to her light hearted, positive spirit and saw humor in everything. Kathy’s passing, surrounded by her family at home, marked the end of a life well-lived. Her legacy of love, resilience, and unwavering optimism will forever be treasured by those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Goian Bego! (Go with God!)

Kathy is survived by her husband of fifty-three years Vernon (Durg) Perron, one daughter Nikki Maynard and husband Greg Maynard, and four of her sons Ryan Perron and wife Sahily Perron, Josh Perron and wife Sheena Perron, Jake Perron, and Joel Perron. Other surviving family members include ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Lindsay, Gregory, Ryan, Riley, Kameron, Sahily, Taelyn, Yanella, Brooklyn, Natalyn, Zelainey and Avery. She is predeceased by her son, Gabriel Perron and by two grandchildren, Nathaniel and Joshua Maynard.

Kathy's service will be at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Hailey at 10am on Saturday, November 4th.   There will be a visitation from 9am until service time at the church.  Interment will follow in the Shoshone Cemetery at 1pm.