Maureen Therese Flanders Healy died May 21. She was 84 and was the former longtime executive secretary for the town of West Tisbury.

She was born July 22, 1936, to Cyrus and Mary Flanders, and grew up in Windsor Locks, Conn., with all the love and attention due the youngest child and only daughter among five children.

She and her family visited Menemsha every summer to see her grandparents and other relatives. When she was old enough, Maureen and her cousin Marjorie Manter lived in a fishing shack and worked at the Home Port restaurant.

Many wonderful memories grew out of her time in Menemsha. One favorite was when she and Majorie evacuated to ride out a hurricane with the young seamen. Another was learning about her great-grandfather Samuel Howard Flanders, who served as lightkeeper at the Gay Head Light. With each retelling of the story, Maureen would grumble about the fact that he was fired in 1861 when Democrats lost the White House.

The best memories began when 16-year-old Maureen thumbed a ride with Kent Healy, age 20. Reportedly she was somewhat smitten and asked for a ride on his boat. A couple of years later Marjorie and Mott deForest arranged for them to meet again at a party at the Davis House, and their lifelong love story began in earnest.

After graduating from the McDuffy School for Girls, Maureen began her studies at the University of Connecticut. But her academic career was cut short in 1957 when she and Kent decided to marry. For the next 63 years they built a partnership which supported and strengthened them through all of life’s challenges and brought immeasurable joy to their five children, eight grandchildren and a host of friends.

In 1964 they settled in eastern Connecticut. Kent began teaching at the University of Connecticut while Maureen was busy with the growing family. Eventually she found time to work in the university library and serve on the governing boards of the Chaplin elementary school and the regional special education cooperative.

For years they summered in Quansoo before becoming year-round residents of West Tisbury in 1983. After moving to the Island, initially Maureen worked for the town of Chilmark, sorting through town land records. In 1987 she became executive secretary to the West Tisbury selectmen and served in that capacity until retiring in 2002. After retirement she worked part-time with Cindy Mitchell on what would become Island Health Care.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Elizabeth of Vineyard Haven; sons Bill, Jon and Allen of Chilmark and Sam of Melrose; grandchildren Alayna and Jon Cohen, and Quinn, Troy, Molly, Keith, Everett and Kent Healy.

She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers Samuel, Urban, Glenn and John Flanders.

Interment will be private. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven MA 02568.