Louise C. Mehan, departed her earthly life at her home on Saturday, April 7, 2018, at the age of 92. The Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. Monday April 16, 2018 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 950 Trails Parkway in Garland, TX. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday April 17, 2018, also at Saint Michael Church in Garland. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trinity Missions in Silver Spring, Maryland or Saint Cecilia’s Convent in Nashville, Tennessee.
Frances Louise (who always went by Louise) was born March 25, 1926 in Burbank CA., fourth of the seven children of John Richard and Faye Reed Conway. Louise was a "black Irish" beauty, with coal-black hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.
As an "Army brat," Louise moved several times with her family, attending four different high schools. As an adult she would say that the happiest year of her schooling was her year at the boarding school of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia Convent in Nashville, Tenn. Much of her younger life was spent in Enid, OK, but she also lived in Brownwood, Texas, Kingsport and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. She moved to Dallas with her family in 1945.
Louise loved to dance and would often attend dances given for servicemen, always in the company of one of her brothers. Louise met Joseph A. Mehan (“Joe") on a blind date in 1948 and married exactly two years later, in Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dallas. Louise and Joe attended daily Mass on their honeymoon and were married for sixty-seven years before his passing in May of 2017.
Louise was preceded in death by her beloved husband Joe, as well as her parents, older sister, and four of her brothers. Survivors include one brother, Leo (Carolyn); children Ruth (Robert) Uhl, Helen (Timothy Walsh), Father Joseph A. Mehan Jr., Joy (Dan Carson), Genevieve (Glenn Harmon), Emilie (Ed) McVey, and Grace; also grandchildren Robert Andrew (fiancée Tina Serbanos), Thomas (Emily), John (Natalie), and Stephen Uhl; Christopher and Anna Carson; Mackenzie, Evan, Augustine (fiancée Gabriela Trossen), Sebastien, Ignatius and Louisa-Faye Harmon; Rachel and Lydia McVey; and her great grandchildren Charlie, George, Joseph and Helen.
Louise was known for her beautiful sewing; in fact, she made almost all of her own clothes for decades, as well as those of her six daughters, including some of their wedding dresses. She made shirts for her husband and exquisite priestly vestments for her son. She sewed for the home as well, making tablecloths, curtains, and even pinch-pleated drapes. She knitted and crocheted skillfully as well. After her children were grown, she and Grace used their sewing talents and sold hand-crafted items at various church fairs.
Louise was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Dallas for 54 years, where she was active in the Ladies Altar Society, was a Cub Scout den leader, served as cookie chairman for the parish Girl Scouts troop and participated in Bible Study and other activities. For the last four and a half years, belonged to St. Michael the Archangel parish in Garland, Texas, where Joseph serves as pastor.
Louise was an avid reader and enjoyed word puzzles in her spare time. She attended scores of Knights of Columbus and Boy Scouting events with Joe, and for a time was active in Alhambra. Louise was always available when needed for the family. She was an good cook and cake baker, an excellent speller, and enjoyed jokes and saying the bon mot.
Louise gave excellent advice when asked, but was not pushy. When her brain began to succumb to dementia, Louise nonetheless held mostly happy memories and was unfailingly grateful for every kindness, no matter how small. Although Louise will be missed by family, caregivers and friends, we all rejoice that her everlasting life with Christ has begun.
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