EVANSTON — Longtime Uinta County Assessor Lori Perkins entered retirement on May 30, after a 34-year career at the Uinta County Complex. Perkins began her employment in the Uinta County Treasurer’s Office in 1991.

In 2007, she ran and was elected county assessor. She continued to be reelected and served in that capacity until her recent retirement. In March, Perkins said she gave the county commissioners a letter stating her planned retirement date in May.

“I used to love the work of assessor, but the last couple of years have been too much,” Perkins said. “I’m worn out from all the political chaos; it’s exhausting. I’m getting too old for all of this.”

The staff at the county complex threw Perkins a retirement party on her last day in office. She asked the commissioners not to spend the money on a plaque that would just get stored in a closet.

She said she was disappointed that only commissioner Eric South attended, but she was aware and understood commissioner Brent Hatch had a doctor’s appointment out of town.

“My deputy assessor, Ashlee Richins, was sworn in at the commission meeting on Tuesday, June 17,” Perkins said. “Ashlee will do a great job. She had turned in her application in April when the county had a 30-day notice from me but Loretta, the county attorney, said the office needed to be vacant before appointing a new person, so Ashlee wasn’t [promoted] until I left.”

Perkins was born and raised in Evanston and graduated from Evanston High School in 1976. She married Tim Perkins on May 27, 1978. Perkins worked at First National Bank and First Wyoming Bank prior to being employed with the county. 

The couple have two sons, T.J. and David Perkins, who were both born and raised in Evanston. The couple are now both retired and Perkins said they plan to enjoy their four grandchildren, Carlie, Jack, Tucker and Bella; enjoy their horse and dog; garden; build a deck and later do some traveling.

“I’m one happy grandma to be able to spend more time with the grandkids now,” Perkins said.