Louise Tenney Mehaffey

Louise Tenney Mehaffey, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Southbury, CT on July 28, 2022, at the age of 90. Born on December 7, 1931 to Harrison and Isabel Tenney, she grew up and lived all but the last two years of her life at her family’s farm in Rowley.

She was married to William C. Mehaffey Sr. for 51 years before he passed away in 2004. They met when she was 11 and he was 17, when he came to work for her father at the Tenney Farm (now Mehaffey Farm). They were married in Oct.1953 after Bill returned from serving in the Korean War. She always said that he got a letter from her every day that he served in Korea. Bill would say he was often the only one in his unit to get such regular mail from home.

After graduating from Ipswich High School in 1949, Louise worked as a teller at the Danvers Savings Bank until she left to raise her family. Once her children were older, she went back to work as a teller at the Family Mutual Savings Bank in Topsfield. She also worked at Hill’s Family Store in Ipswich, at the Rose Medalion in Newburyport and at the Triton High School cafeteria. After her husband passed away, Louise worked at the Rowley Board of Selectmen’s office. Louise was extremely proud of her heritage as a direct descendent of Thomas Tenney, one of the first settlers of Rowley who traveled here on the Ship John in the 1600’s. She was active in the Tenney Family Association, planning reunions and events. It was always her wish that the farm should be preserved, and because of her generosity this became a reality in 2018 when most of the remaining land was placed under a Conservation Restriction. She loved to travel, and returned many times to Bermuda, a place she loved to visit with her husband. Another memorable trip was a visit to Rowley Parish in England with other members of the First Congregational Church of Rowley. Visiting the place of origin of many of the families who settled Rowley Mass., was one of the highlights of her life. Among her favorite activities was boating with her family down the Rowley River to their camp in the Plum Island Sound on Ipswich Bluffs. She loved trips to the White Mountains in NH, and especially camping at Great East Lake. She and Bill also traveled a number of times to Hawaii to visit her brother Harrison and his family. Louise was a friendly and outgoing woman who had many friends. She always took great pains with her appearance and dressed in pretty clothing. She was known for her baking and cooking, especially her pies and raspberry squares which are still remembered by her grandchildren and friends. She believed in being of service to her community. She, along with her mother Isabel, were always quick to bake and deliver homemade food and baked goods to local families in need. Louise took part in many activities as a member of the Rowley Congregational Church. She particularly enjoyed singing in the choir. She was a member of the Rowley 350th Anniversary Committee. Every year she was out collecting donations as a member of the Bob Hardy Scholarship Fund Committee, and also for the Cancer Society. She took great pride in winning first place for her apple pie during the Chili Cookoff, one of the Rowley Library’s fundraisers. In her later years, she loved volunteering at Pine Grove School, where she helped out on cafeteria duty, read to the children in the classrooms, and helped with annual Kindergarten screening. Louise is predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her brother Harrison E. Tenney Jr., of Honolulu, HI. She is survived by her two children; Marcia Louise Farina and her husband Bruce of Southbury CT; and William C. Mehaffey Jr. and his wife Maggie of Rowley.

She leaves two grandchildren, Ross Mehaffey and his wife Acacia of Byfield; and Michael Mehaffey and his wife Desiree of Rowley. She had five great-grandchildren, Shelby, Silas, and Sawyer of Byfield and Colton and Ian of Rowley; as well as two nephews; Daniel E. Tenney of Honolulu, HI; and Thomas P. Tenney and his family of Scottsdale, AZ.

Calling hours will be Thursday, August 11, from 4-7 p.m. at F. S. Roberts & Son Funeral Home, 14 Independent St., Rowley. Funeral service is on Friday, August 12, at 10 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Rowley, 175 Main St., Rowley. Burial will take place immediately following the service at the Rowley Burial Ground. Donations in her name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Home Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or to the First Congregational Church of Rowley, 175 Main St. Rowley, MA 01969. To leave a message of condolence, please visit www.fsrobertsandson.com

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