CORNISH,NH
Joseph Meyette III, age 90, passed away at his home in Cornish on Monday afternoon, February 13, 2017.



Joe was born in the family home in Mill Village, Plainfield, NH on April 24, 1926, second son of Joseph "Charlie" and Rose (Hill) Meyette.



He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Margaret "Peggy" (Eastman), son Brian and wife Karla of Cornish, daughter Brenda and husband Ken Lewis of Natick, MA, granddaughter Allison (Schuster) and husband Spencer Hitchner of Boston, MA, and granddaughter Julia Schuster of Minneapolis, MN.



He was predeceased by brother Ernest Eugene in 1925. son Dana Lear in 1976, and brother John Leo in 2011.



He attended elementary school in Plainfield, and graduated from Windsor (VT) High School in 1944. He also attended Western New Mexico University.



After high school, he worked as an aircraft mechanic at Roosevelt Field on Long Island, NY, then enlisted in the US Army. He served in the Occupation of Japan after WWII. He later served in Texas and Arkansas during the Korean Conflict, and was in the National Guard in Windsor, VT until the late 1950s.



After his first discharge from the Army, he met Peggy, where she worked at the Shipman estate in Plainfield with his father, and they were married September 3, 1950 in Cornish.



He worked as a carpenter and builder in Plainfield in the 1950s and 1960s, followed by a career as a federal housing inspector in Claremont, NH, Los Angeles, CA, and Albuquerque and Deming, NM until his retirement.



A lifelong firearms enthusiast, he ran a gun shop in Plainfield and was a member of the Plainfield Shooting Club in the 1950s and 1960s. He hand crafted many fine custom rifles. He was a Benefactor Life member of, and frequent donor to, the National Rifle Association. He greatly enjoyed shooting, reloading, hunting, nature, and being out in the woods.



A man of great honesty and integrity, he served as a Plainfield Selectman and was Plainfield Police Chief in the 1960s and 1970s. He earned a karate black belt in the 1970s. He was also a motorcycle enthusiast, riding a "suicide shift" Harley in the 1960s, followed by Triumphs and several other bikes.



Joe and Peggy are long-time members of the Plainfield Community Baptist Church.



The family wishes to express its appreciation for the efforts and expertise of the Cornish Rescue Squad. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Joe's name to Plainfield Community Baptist Church, the NRA, or the Cornish Rescue Squad.



Services will held Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 2:00 PM at the Plainfield Community Baptist Church. Graveside services will be in the spring.