Margaret E. Murray, 90, passed away peacefully at home in Mattapoisett, MA on Friday, July 8, 2011. Wife of James J. Murray, mother of six, and office manager of the family business, Mrs. Murray had a deep appreciation of her retirement years. A resident of Mattapoisett since 1980, Margaret loved living so near the ocean. She enjoyed reading, gardening, swimming, and, most especially, spending time with her family. A lifelong Democrat, Mrs. Murray very much appreciated civil and well-informed political discussion. Most notably, she was known and loved as an especially sweet and gentle soul.

Mrs. Murray was born in Providence, RI on July 14, 1920 to Dennis and Alice Hurley, a printer and a homemaker. In 1932, the family relocated to Cambridge, MA. Margaret was graduated from St. John’s High School and, later, Miss Fay’s Business School in Boston. Mrs. Murray was an office manager with Beneficial Finance where she met her husband following his return from World War II. They were married in June, 1948.

In 1965, the family moved to Milford, NH and resided on Amherst St. The next year Mr. and Mrs. Murray established Murray Associates, an employment agency with offices in Nashua, NH and Lowell, MA.

In retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Murray enjoyed a variety of volunteer work including: teaching literacy skills to young people involved with the criminal justice system, serving as hosts to Fresh Air Fund children, and as hosts to the Cape Cod Irish Children’s Fund summer program that brings Catholic and Protestant children from Northern Ireland to the Cape and nearby areas, giving them a chance to get to know each other in a safe, neutral place.

Mrs. Murray is survived by her sons Michael Murray and his wife, Mary of Needham, MA, Thomas Murray of Hood River, OR, Daniel Murray and his wife, Jenni, of Milford, NH; and daughters Maureen Murray of Mount Vernon, ME and Patricia Murray of Mattapoisett, MA; and five grandchildren, Amana Miyamae of Denver, CO, James and Aidan Murray of Needham, MA, and Daniel and Michael Murray of Milford, NH.

She was predeceased by her husband, James, in 1999 and her eldest son, James, in 1985.

A funeral mass has been held. The family has appreciated the donations made in Mrs. Murray’s memory to local food pantries.