The Maintenance Association of the Granite State (MAGS) is an organization dedicated to the education of vehicle maintenance personnel, whether they are technicians, parts professionals or managers.

We meet regularly for education and networking with others in our chosen field.

Meetings are usually held in Concord but, are also held at vendors and members facilities.

We invite you to join us by attending a meeting to see if we can help you improve your skills or make your job easier and more enjoyable.

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Welcome

It is with sadness that we report the passing of Mert Perkins. His obituary follows here.

Merton Perkins, 74, of Lane Road, Raymond, died June 4, 2008, in Pleasant Valley Nursing Home, Derry, after a period of declining health. He was born in Manchester Nov. 12, 1933, to Merton A. and Edna A. (Curtis) Perkins Sr. He attended school in Manchester and then joined the U.S. Army, where he spent many years in Germany followed by four years in the National Guard.

Mert worked as a diesel mechanic for many companies, retiring from Idelnot Dairy and Goffstown Trucking Co. Mert was a founding member of the MAGS Association, where he was president twice, served on the board of directors, and in May of 2008 was made an honorary life member on the board of directors.

Family members include his wife of 44 years, Bernice (McFarland) Perkins of Raymond; four sons, Merton A. Perkins III, of Ohio, Eugene Barnes and Laurie Fortier of Raymond, Paul Perkins of Florida, and Perry Perkins of Virginia; four daughters, Cheryl and William Morrill of Salem, Laurie and Kenneth Desmaris of Hillsborough, Bonnie and Michael Smith of Derry, and Penny Perkins and Rick Johnson of Fitchburg, Mass.; several grandchildren; three sisters, Dorothy Nye of Auburn and Arizona, Joan Seifert and Janice Perkins, both of Texas; one brother, Ronald Perkins of Louisiana; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his long-time friends Albert "Porky" and Ester Battistelli. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, and for the loving affection he had for his dogs. The family would like to thank the staff of CMC Hospital, Adventa Hospice Service and Pleasant Valley Nursing Home for their wonderful care of Merton.

Services. There are no calling hours. After cremation, a memorial service will be at Great Hill Cemetery, Route 121A, Chester, Monday at 11 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to Adventa Hospice Services, IE Commons Drive, Unit 33, Londonderry, 03053. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry, is handling arrangements.