Madelyn grew up in St. Louis as the daughter of a St. Louis policeman. She always said she could not get away with anything because many police officers knew her father. She was a bit of a rebel growing up. Occasionally, Madelyn and her best friend would skip school to watch boat traffic on the Mississippi River. She attended Blewett High School in St. Louis. She was a descendant of some of the first families of America, specifically the Clark, Dilley and Carden clans.
Madelyn married the love of her life, a USN Seabee, George Edward Tehan on
February 6, 1945. After WWII and the return of her sailor from Okinawa, they moved to Valley Park, MO. In 1948, they moved to Breckenridge Hills, MO and started raising their family. The family attended St, Gregory’s Catholic Church in St. Ann, MO. Madelyn was a part of the women’s church auxiliary. She volunteered as a cub scout and brownie leader.
The family, now sporting three sons and one daughter, left St. Louis in 1961 to move to Brinkley, AR where the fourth son, George, was born. Over the years they moved from Arkansas to Mississippi, Virginia, Michigan and then back to Virginia. They spent the last 27 years of marriage living in Virginia. They resided in Lexington, Fincastle and finally Midlothian. While living in Fincastle, Mom worked as a receptionist at a doctor’s office and as a salesclerk in a department store in Daleville, VA. They also attended church at the Church of the Transfiguration Catholic Church in Fincastle.
During the Christmas season, Madelyn and George dressed as Mr. & Mrs. Claus and visited elementary schools passing out wooden toys to children for several years. They also visited nursing homes as their alter egos. This was one of their greatest joys. Madelyn and George were married for 59 years before his death in 2004. Together they formed a family that would be their legacy.
After George’s death, Madelyn created a life of her own. Madelyn had married at an early age and had never been on her own. We were proud of her as she navigated the next journey of her life. Her daughter, Cathy, aided her in this journey until her death in 2013. Cathy’s death had a profound effect on Madelyn, and she lamented that a mother should not outlive her children.
Madelyn attended church at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Powhatan, VA where she was active in the auxiliary and sang in the choir. She was an avid reader and always had a desire to learn. She spent many hours taking courses, listening to lectures, exercising, and playing games at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield, VA. She continued to live alone until late 2016. Her trusted companion was her 13-year-old husky, Sasha, which she had to place for adoption upon moving to an assisted living facility. Parting with her companion was heart wrenching for her.
She moved into the Beehive Homes, first in Philadelphia, MS then to Louisville, MS where her son Tom and his wife Jackie live. They spent many hours since 2016 aiding Madelyn and caring for her. Their dedication to her care was exemplary, especially during Madelyn’s last few months of 2023. Mom’s faith was strong in believing that Jesus Christ was her savior. When she could no longer attend church, Tom brought and administered communion to her.
Madelyn’s eyesight was failing but she was able to listen to books-on-tape. She enjoyed her westerns on TV that she could barely see. Madelyn cherished the frequent visits with Tom and Jackie. She also held dear the visits from her other sons and their wives, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was immensely grateful for the many phone calls that she received from friends and relatives that were near and far.
The largest gathering of the family was a surprise party for her 90th birthday in which most of her family members attended. Another, smaller party was held for her 95th birthday.
Madelyn is survived by her sons and their wives: Robert Tehan (Linda) of Sheridan, AR; Thomas Tehan (Jackie) of Louisville, MS; Michael Tehan (Fran) of Glendale, AZ; George Tehan (Sulema) of Brentwood, MD. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, George, her daughter, Catherine Diane (Tehan) Rackley and Cathy’s husband David Harold Rackley; her brother, Chester Arthur Clark Jr.; her sister Marian Rae (Clark) Swanson and Marian’s husband William Albert Swanson. She was also preceded in death by one great grandchild.
A funeral mass will be conducted at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Louisville, Mississippi, at 10:00 am on March 31, 2023. Visitation with the family will be at 9:30 am.
An inurnment ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. on April 20th in the chapel at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia, VA where her husband is buried. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Madelyn’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
