CARIBOU, CAPE ELIZABETH, AND CONTOOKCOOK, NH – Henrietta Elizabeth Wheeler-Manley, 95, of Caribou and Cape Elizabeth, ME., and Contoocook, NH. passed away Oct. 8, 2018, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. “Henri” was born in Caribou as the eldest of three daughters of Millard and Alta (Argraves) Wright.
She graduated in 1940 from Caribou High School and in 1944 from the University of Maine at Farmington with a Bachelor’s in Home Economics Education.
Henri taught Home Economics in Mars Hill, ME. then in Weymouth, MA for twenty years, including her time as the Department Head for ten years. She also taught at Duxbury, MA. and Silver Lake High School.
While teaching at Weymouth High School she developed a unique program training students for early childhood education jobs that included a child care center at the school.
Henri met and married Gordon B. Wheeler in Caribou, ME. while he was stationed there during World War II. Their marriage lasted for more than 50 years before Gordon passed away in 1996. Gordon was a pilot for Eastern Airlines for 34 years, based out of Boston, MA. After retiring to Contoocook, NH in 1980, Henri started her own business, HEW Interior Design.
In 2001 Henri remarried John Addis Manley from New London, NH. They enjoyed traveling abroad and between homes in New Hampshire, Maine, and Florida until John passed away in July 2005.
Henri enjoyed traveling, playing golf, entertaining, decorating and spending time with family & friends.
She is predeceased by her sisters Joyce Wright Holdsworth and Barbara “Bobby” Wright, and a niece Jane Althea Holdsworth. Henri is survived by her daughter Bonnie Wheeler Vaughan; grandsons Sean and Scott Vaughan, his wife Rachel and great grandson Eli; and nephews Francis and Edmund McGuire, and his husband Micah Salkind.
A private burial will be held at the Contoocook Village Cemetery in Hopkinton, NH. with a service provided by Rev. Gordon Crouch of the First Congregational Church.
Please consider a donation/gift in memory of Henrietta Wright Wheeler to the University of Maine at Farmington’s Scholarship Fund in care of the Alumni Center 242 Main St., Farmington, ME. 04938, or to the Alzheimer Association’s Maine Chapter at www.alz.org/maine.
The Holt-Woodbury Funeral Home & Cremation Service Henniker, NH is assisting the family.
For more log on to www.holtwoodburyfh.com.
