Mary McChesney TenEyck passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 10, at her son John’s home in Taylor, Texas, three weeks short of her 98th birthday. She is preceded by her parents Donald and Marian McChesney, her brother John Downer Pennock, killed in action at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, her husband of 53 years, Hendrix TenEyck; and Milissa Marian, daughter of son Rick in 1978 (19 days).
Mary was born and raised in Syracuse, N.Y., but lived on and off in Beaufort, S.C., during her life. The McChesney’s purchased a large plot of land on Battery Creek in 1936 now known as Cottage Farm. When her father was stationed in Orlando during World War II, she lived in Beaufort and was crowned Miss Beaufort while attending Beaufort High School. She also attended Chatham Hall School in Virginia and Vassar College in New York. She worked as the Personnel Manager at the family business, Hall & McChesney in Syracuse, N.Y., for 26 years.
The TenEyck family moved from Syracuse to Beaufort in 1979, and she helped run the family businesses — Battery Creek Catering, the Dutch Treat Restaurant on Lady’s Island (now Q’s Chicken Shack) — and built the Gadsby Tavern in downtown Beaufort (now Q on Bay) and the development of Jericho Woods on Battery Creek Road. Sweetgrass.
Mary was a very dedicated volunteer to many organizations throughout her life including being on the boards of The Child and Family Service, Junior League of Syracuse, American Red Cross, Huntington Family Center and Oakwood Cemeteries She was a volunteer for The Family Caregiver for Hospice in Central N.Y., Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, a member of the Beaufort Open Land Trust, Jail Ministries, the Portfolio Club of Syracuse and the Clover Club of Beaufort. She was a member of the St. Mark’s Church in Port Royal, S.C.. and Grace Episcopal Church in Cortland, N.Y., as well as St. Helena’s Church in Beaufort.
She is survived by her four children, Laura Nichols in Warrenton, Va.; John in Taylor, Texas, with his wife Rhonda, Peter in Beaufort, S.C., with his wife Dana and Hendrix, Jr. in Peconic, N.Y., as well as 14 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Her favorite saying at the end of every meal blessing was, “Bless all those who sit within our circle out of sight.”
