Obituary: Beverly E. (MacVane) Murray
Beverly E. (MacVane) Murray, 87, of Cape Neddick, Maine, passed away on August 25, 2026, at her son's home, surrounded by her children.
Born on March 24, 1939, in Portland, Maine, Beverly was the daughter of James L. and Ethel (McLeod) MacVane of Peaks Island. She attended schools on Peaks Island and graduated from Westbrook High School in 1959. Following her graduation, she married and settled in South Portland and Gorham, where she dedicated herself to raising her children, James "Jay" and Nancy. A devoted stay-at-home mother, Beverly was rarely absent when her children returned from school.
After her children completed high school, Beverly embarked on a new chapter in her professional career. In 1983, she joined Porteous, Mitchell & Braun Co. at a new store location in "The Mall" in South Portland, where she worked until her retirement due to health issues.
In 1991, Beverly married her first love, Malcolm "Mac" Murray Jr. The couple initially lived in Gorham until Mac's retirement, after which they moved to East Newport, Maine. There, they transformed a hunting camp into their home on the shore of Sebasticook Lake and built a two-story barn. Beverly embraced her new life, becoming an avid hunter, four-wheeler, and occasional ice fisher in the Central Maine woods. She particularly enjoyed wildlife watching from her porch, especially loons and bald eagles. Their life on the lake was filled with companionship until Mac's passing in 2022.
Later, Beverly moved to Cape Neddick, where she faced declining health. When asked about her well-being, she often replied, "I'm going with the flow." She enjoyed word search puzzles, game shows, and Hallmark movies, and loved listening to music, particularly easy-listening instrumentals. She also cherished visits from relatives and friends.
Beverly is survived by her children, James "Jay" T. Roberts of Cape Neddick and Nancy E. Menard of Charlton, Massachusetts; sons-in-law Russell J. Whitney and Peter D. Menard; many nieces and nephews in Maine, Minnesota, and New Hampshire; in-laws Michael Murray of Bath and John and Anne Murray of Falmouth; stepsons Chuck Murray of Limington and Malcolm Murray III of Pollock, Texas; stepdaughter Kathleen DeAngelo of Putnam, Connecticut; and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren across Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Texas. She also held a special place in her heart for Wayne and Debbie, and is remembered fondly by friends Ellie and Gordon Wood of Newport, and her son's mother-in-law, Adeline Whitney of Gray.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Malcolm; her parents, James and Ethel MacVane; siblings Glen, Doug, Bruce, Walter, Donald, Donna Lauritzen, and Vivian Olson; and several nieces and nephews.
The family expressed deep gratitude to Hospice of Southern Maine (Andwell), her nurses Mellissa and Jill, CNAs Anna and Arin, and her friend Donna for their care and support.
No services are currently planned. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Beverly's name to York Ambulance at P.O. Box 238, York, ME 03909, or through yorkambulance.com.
A heartfelt tribute captures her spirit: "She went with the flow until she flowed no more."
