Louise Bertha Shields.  Born 6/26/1940 to Edith and Karl Proctor of North Reading, MA.  She joined her siblings Priscilla, Arthur and Karl as the youngest of the 4.

She self-describes as a shy child and remembers fondly going to Vermont in the summers, riding horses with her neighbor, learning to play the organ, and spending time with her niece and nephew who were very close in age to her.

She met Kenneth Dudley Shields during a production of Oklahoma they were both in during her college years.  The pair were married July 7, 1962 and have been inseparable since.  Even working at the same school for years.

They have described their relationship as a boat--the Louken and he is the sailor while she is the navigator.  They honeymooned at Alton Bay and enjoyed canoeing there.  Living in North Reading, then Rowley MA, and then settling in New Durham in 1974 which is the town they have remained after trading their larger house for a smaller retirement one in 1994.

The couple has enjoyed canoeing and later sailing as well as camping, owning horses and riding together, owning motor scooters and riding those together.

Four children, Kimberly L. Shields (Wolfeboro), Darren K. Shields (deceased 1988), Rachel K. Shields-Towne (Milton Mills) and Laurie L. Vachon (Wolfeboro).

Grandchildren Brian K. Towne (Rochester) Andrew A. Towne (Rochester) Benjamin J. Towne (Milton Mills) Hannah L. Vachon (Wolfeboro) Holden D. Vachon (Wolfeboro) and step Grand-daughter Cory Towne-Kerr married to Justin Kerr and their children Oliver and Lucas (all North Hampton)

Louise is pre-deceased by her siblings.  Her niece Ann Duggan (Wilmington MA) is like a sister to her.  Mark Sennott (New Durham) has been a family member "she picked" since 1976.

Louise graduated from UMass Amherst with her BA in Math.  She continued to be friends with classmates for life from her years at school.

In Rowley Louise and Ken joined their church and enjoyed a couples club starting in 1971.  They would camp with the other couples and families as well as bible studies and activities.  Some of these members have remained close, lifelong friends and she even enjoyed their annual "Friendsgiving" beef stew event on the weekend after Thanksgiving this past year as she has enjoyed it for decades.

Louise was a talented musician playing church organ.  She has provided the beautiful hymns and anthems and songs for countless weddings, funerals and worship services over 60 years in many different institutions.  Sometimes playing old pump organs or enormous pipe organs or pianos or newer organs.  She enjoyed accompanying the congregation and adding to a service--never wanting the attention on her.

Working at Avco right out of college as a computer programmer on a project to design the heat shielding on the nose cone of the Apollo project she enjoyed using that math talent.  She had to take leave when she was expecting her first child due to the radiation the huge computers of the day put out.  She decided to stay home with her daughter and later with the rest of her children.  She put family before career.  As the youngest were reaching school age she went back to work a job that still allowed her the time she wanted to invest in her children.  School food cook at the New Durham Elementary School where she continued to work until her retirement many years later after becoming the head cook and enjoying many a national cooks convention around the country.  Trips to Las Vegas, Texas, Florida and others were real highlights for Louise.

A woman of many talents and interests she was a quilter, knitter, artist (painter), excellent cook, horseback rider among others.  She was very generous with her time, money and talents giving to many, many charities locally and beyond.

She was never one to complain and she put on a smiling face through all of life's adversities: the loss of family including her son, fighting non-hodgkin's lymphoma since 2004.  She had a wonderful outlook and was able to look on the bright side of a situation.

A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 11am at John C. Shirley Cemetery in New Durham, NH, family and friends are welcome.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to: First Congregational Church, Farmington, NH 03835.   Arrangements by Peaslee Funeral Home, to express condolences, please visit: www.peasleefuneralhome.com