Keturah Cheney

Keturah May Ladue Cheney—Native Adirondack Centurion

Passed away at Mercy Living Center in Tupper Lake on Friday, November 18, 2011 where she has been a resident for the last two and one half years.

Keturah was born in Wanakena, NY, June 9, l911. First born of the ten children of Howard Ladue and Lena Berger Ladue, she was the last survivor of her family. She was born at the height of the logging industry in the Adirondacks; her father, a lumber scaler, moved his family to Cranberry Lake, Conifer and then to Tupper Lake as jobs closed and opened at the lumber mills.

Keturah attended school in Cranberry Lake and Tupper Lake, and like so many girls of that era, her attendance often depended on whether or not her mother needed her at home to help with the growing family. When she was in her Junior year, she had to leave school for several months to care for her mother and this time she never returned to school. That same year she began to work for the Oval Wood Dish Corporation where she worked for more than 20 years.

On June 1, l933, she was married to Loren Francis Cheney by the Reverend Aaron Maddox, and the couple lived the rest of their lives in Tupper Lake. Keturah and Loren had four children: Loren Jr.(wife, Ann), Harriet Cheney (husband Darwin), Watson (wife, Joyce) and Gerald (wife, Sharon). She is survived by ten grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. Her husband and her son, Loren Jr., predeceased her as did two grandchildren, Donald and Cynthia Louise, children of Watson and Joyce Cheney, and her great grandson Dillon Dziedzic, son of Laurie Cheney Hillenbeck.

As her children grew and left home for other parts of the country, Keturah became a traveler. She flew to Kentucky, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Chicago, and California. These trips were often planned so she would be there to help when a new grandchild was born. She came bearing baby blankets, sweater sets and Christening gowns she had knit or crocheted. Later when she flew to weddings; she came bearing afghans and then as each great grandchild married, she created a new blanket. She knit socks and mittens for soldiers, hats and sweaters for skiers, and distributed her signature needlework crosses to family, friends and neighbors – hundreds of them.

Throughout her long life, Keturah was an active and enthusiastic participant in the Tupper Lake community. She was a 4-H Leader, Chairman of Crafts Activities at the Senior Center for several years, an active member of the Presbyterian Church and the Loyal Order of the Moose. In l991, she was chosen as Tupper Lake Senior Citizen of the Year.

Keturah spent her life in service to others. All those who knew her will celebrate her good life recalling her irresolute strength of character, her strong will, her abiding faith during adversity, and the high spirit and humor of her daily life. Her children when speaking of her will refer to their mother as Ma, Mom, Grandma, Gigi, and will always feel thankful to God for the gift of this strong Adirondack woman they loved, their Mother , who worked so hard providing for them while all the time surrounding them with her fierce, protective and unconditional love.

Calling hours will be held from 1:00-3:00 PM on Monday November 21 at the United Community Church of Tupper Lake, A funeral service will follow at 3:00 PM. Burial we be at the Lakeview Cemetery following the service. Donations in Keturah’s memory may be made to the United Community Church, 23 High Street, Tupper Lake, NY 12983 or a charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements are with the Stuart- Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Tupper Lake, NY.

telephone 518-359-9311.