Obituary: Natalie Ann (Spinney) Murray

Natalie Ann Spinney Murray, 92, Remembered as a Lifelong Learner and Poet

Falmouth, Maine – Natalie Ann Spinney Murray, a beloved longtime resident of Falmouth, died peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. The 92‑year‑old was known throughout her community for her boundless curiosity, creative spirit, and deep commitment to learning and service.

Murray was born on Aug. 13, 1934 in Rochester, New Hampshire, to Ernest O. and Ida L. (Cotton) Spinney. She grew up in the small town of North Wakefield, attending a one‑room schoolhouse before graduating from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro in 1952. She pursued a nursing career, earning her RN credential from the Eliot Hospital School of Nursing in 1955.

After completing her training, Murray joined a cohort of classmates that moved to Boston, where she worked at Beth Israel Hospital. When her mother needed care, she returned to New Hampshire, working at Huggins Hospital and a local nursing home, The Door Stop. In 1960 she married David Murray and relocated to Valhalla, New York, where she served on the nursing staff at Grasslands Hospital. The couple later returned to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, before embarking on a life of military family mobility.

In 1962, Murray and her husband welcomed their daughter, Nancy Jane, into the world. When David joined the U.S. Air Force, the family moved to Ohio and then San Antonio, Texas, where they welcomed son John David in 1966. The Murrays were stationed at several air bases, including locations in Illinois, Arizona, and Plattsburg, New York. In 1971, they finally settled in Falmouth, Maine, a home that would become their sanctuary for the next 55 years.

Murray’s love of learning and the arts flourished during those years. In 1997 she enrolled in the newly established Maine Senior College at the University of Southern Maine, the first Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in the state. There she explored subjects ranging from music and history to theater and poetry, discovering a “poetic voice” that would later earn her recognition as the Maine Senior College Network Poet Laureate in 2012.

Her creative passions extended beyond the classroom. An accomplished embroiderer, cake decorator, and handicrafts enthusiast, Murray also held a lifelong affection for literature. She was a frequent visitor to libraries, often carrying several books at once—a novel for appointments, a favorite beside the bed, and a collection for leisurely reading.

In 2014, her published book, Lemon Drop Day, was added to the Library of Congress—a milestone she described as “the thrill of her life.” The book captured her lyrical observations of everyday moments, a hallmark of her poetic style.

Travel also featured prominently in her life. A 1985 trip to London and Scotland marked the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary, and they returned to the UK and other European destinations, including France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Ireland, and Prague, over the decades. The OLLI program also afforded her opportunities to visit four western U.S. national parks. In addition, she enjoyed several cruises to Bermuda, the Caribbean, and through the Panama Canal, often stopping in various Central and South American countries.

Murray was predeceased by her parents and siblings—Leona McSorely of Anchorage, Alaska, and Bruce Spinney of Wisconsin. She is survived by her husband David, whom she married 66 years ago; daughter Nancy; son John; grandson Andrew; and great‑grandchildren Caellum, Zinnia, Maitreya, and Veda. Her husband and family celebrated her life with an intimate ceremony scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Jones, Rich and Barnes Funeral Home.

Friends and community members are invited to leave messages of condolence at the funeral home’s website, http://www.jonesrichandbarnes.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maine Senior College at the University of Southern Maine’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a program that shaped much of Murray’s adult life.

Murray’s legacy—as a dedicated nurse, devoted mother and grandmother, and a passionate advocate for lifelong learning—continues to inspire those who knew her. Her passing leaves a profound void in the Falmouth community, but her stories, poems, and the countless lives she touched endure.