Norwood Keeney

Norwood H. Keeney, Jr. passed away May 15, 2014 at the Applewood Nursing Home after a short illness fighting lung cancer. He was born in Hartford, CT July 10, 1924, the son of Norwood H. Keeney and Edith (Gocher) Keeney. He grew up in nearby Bloomfield where he developed a life-long love of fishing. He was a WWII veteran (1943-1945) serving as a radar counter measures operator assigned to B-24 aircraft flying throughout the South Pacific with the 528th Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group. He married Phyllis Ruth Mottram in 1946. At Trinity College in Hartford, he received a B.S. (1948), an M.S. from the University of Maine/Orno (1950) and his Ph.d. from the University of Manchester, England (1962). His course of study was chemical engineering with specialization in pulp and paper. His interest in chemistry had been inspired by the laboratories he had seen testing milk in his youth. His father was affiliated with the milk business. Professionally, he worked in private industry including Fram Corporation. The bulk of his career was spent as a professor at what was known as Lowell Tech in Lowell, MA, retiring in 1986 as chairman of the chemical engineering dept. He was a long time member of the Technological Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) and the Society of Professional Engineers. The Keeney's moved to Hudson, NH in 1957. Following their two year hiatus in England, having been alarmed by the political climate there, he had a strong desire to become involved in the political process. He was active in the 1964 Goldwater campaign. For many years he was the Republican town chairman and Hillsborough County chairman. He was elected as supervisor of the checklist for several terms and was a delegate to the NH Constitutional Convention (1974). He was an expert philatelist specializing in Portuguese stamps. He took great pride in volunteering for the Collings Foundation when they brought vintage airplanes to regional airports in NH. He ran a cut your own Christmas tree farm on the family's Hudson tree farm. For many years he was a member of the First NH Regiment, a colonial re-enactment group, retiring from the group as colonel (2002) He was a familiar figure at parades and battle re-enactments throughout New England and beyond. The Keeney's retired to Unity, NH (1986) travelling extensively during their retirement. moving formally to Richmond, NH (2013) to be closer to their son. Thoroughly organized, an engineer to the core, a teacher, a gardener, a patriot and a caring husband & father, impatient but always good humored.
He leaves his wife, Phyllis, of 67 years, a son, Norwood H. "Woody" Keeney III, a cousin Mary Jane Gocher of NYC. He was predeceased by a half sister, Dorothy K. Van Horn of Largo, FL.

Former NH State Senator, Phyllis M. Keeney, 89, longtime resident of Hudson, NH and Unity, NH and more recently, Richmond, NH passed away at Maplewood of Cheshire County, November 28, 2015 with her only child, at her side. She succumbed to respiratory failure having suffered from the ravages of dementia. She was the widow of Norwood H. Keeney, Jr. who passed away May 15, 2014. They married in 1946 and would have observed 68 years together. She was a native of Hartford, CT, born December 10, 1925 to parents Frank E. Mottram and Gracie (Burroughs) Mottram. She attended local schools, received her B.A. from Pennsylvania State College (1946), and an M.S. in Library Science from Columbia University (1952). As a professional librarian, she worked at various institutions including the John Hay Library at Brown University, the Bangor Public Library, Harvard Law School Library and from 1967-86 she worked at the Regina Library at what was then Rivier College in Nashua. She and her husband moved to Hudson, NH in 1957. Upon retirement in 1986 the Keeney's moved to Unity, NH where they enjoyed beautiful mountain scenery from their home. They formally moved to Richmond, NH to be closer to their son in 2013. During the Hudson years, Mrs. Keeney was an active civic leader including the Hudson Fortnightly Club, the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, the Nashua Artists Association, the Hudson VFW Auxiliary and was a founding member of the Hudson Historical Society. She held elective office: as a Republican State Representative 1967-72, Selectman 1974-77, having been a write-in candidate; State Senator District 14, representing Hudson, Londonderry and Wards 3 & 7 in Nashua, 1977-78. Her motto was "Your View Counts". She was involved with the Nashua Regional Planning Commission and for a time served as its interim executive director. During her years in Unity, she was active with the Unity Historical Society. Otherwise, her retirement years were spent travelling extensively be it near or far enjoying gardens, architecture, art and the inspiring scenery of the world. Phyllis Keeney cared deeply about her country, her state and community. She was a quiet, and highly private person yet held a deep resolve for her view points. Her resolve to live was reflected right up to her last breaths. She expressed creativeness, as a painter, poet; in her home and in fashion with a sharp eye for design. She had a spark of fun and cleverness. Most of all she was a loving parent in every sense of the word. She leaves her son, Norwood H. "Woody" Keeney III and her cat, "Mittens".

Services: Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 9, 2015 from Noon to 1 PM with Remarks and Remembrance being offered at 1 PM at the Phaneuf Funeral Home, 172 King St, Boscawen, NH. At 2 PM in the NH State Veterans Cemetery, a joint burial and committal for her late husband with military honors will take place.

The staff of Custom Helpers LLC; Home, Health Care Hospice & Community Services and Maplewood of Cheshire County are deserving of many thanks and appreciation for their respective roles in offering care, fun and comfort over the course of Mrs. Keeney's declining months.