Anne Elizabeth Murray

Anne Dickinson Murray died peacefully February 17 in Johnson City, Tenn., following 97 years giving her fullest to family, friends and her communities.

She is predeceased by her husband, Jack Murray, parents Charles and Ida Dickinson, and brothers Charles II “Buck” and Bob Dickinson.

Anne was born Sept. 20, 1928 in Evanston, IL. At the dawn of the Great Depression, her family moved to a dairy farm in Virgil, NY, where she shared a money-poor but experience-rich childhood with her family, ultimately being named a New York State Regents Scholar in 1944. She enrolled at Cornell University where she met Jack, recently returned from World War II’s Pacific Theatre. They were wed June 6, 1948 and moved to St. Joseph, IL, where Jack had accepted a position at the University of Illinois. Within four years, sons Jack Jr., Bob and Tom were born. The family embarked to New Delhi, India, in 1954, as Jack joined a USDA team deployed to help Indian farmers improve crop growing techniques.

In 1956, Anne and family returned to the US, soon welcoming daughter Catherine. The family moved to Newark, Del., where Jack accepted a position with the University of Delaware. It was there that lifelong friendships began to take root. Needing a larger house for a growing family, Anne found a 100-year-old farmhouse for sale just north of Newark – across the Pennsylvania line. The family moved to “Penn View,” establishing a unique lifestyle centered around farming and gardening, outdoor work, academics, values and curiosity, spearheaded by Anne and Jack. They welcomed two more children in 1960 (Sarah) and 1963 (Ken).

In 1968, Anne returned to college, more than 20 years after leaving Cornell to raise a family. She graduated with a degree in Education from the University of Delaware in 1971, embarking on a teaching career at Delcastle Vocational Technical High School in Newport, Del., where she impacted the lives of hundreds of young women preparing for careers in early childhood education. During this time, Anne was very active in school activities, leading many student trips to New York City as well as camping excursions in Shenandoah National Park. She also served as president of the Delaware State Teachers Association.

Even after retirement from Delcastle, Anne continued her education and service to others -- taking and ultimately teaching courses in poetry – at UD’s Academy of Lifelong Learning, which husband Jack had founded.

Service was one of Anne’s calling cards. She worked election polls in London Britain Township for over 30 years, exposing her children to the value of community involvement. She volunteered and served on the board of directors at Ashland Nature Center, where she also led countless tours for thousands of local school children.

In 2000, following Jack’s passing, Anne moved to Jenners Pond retirement community in Jennersville, Penn. She lived there for 20 years – active once again – leading bus excursions to Lancaster, Philadelphia and New York City. She also wrote a column in the community newspaper and was a frequent pet walker and sitter when fellow residents were unable to do so.

Anne had a special fondness for animals (the feeling was mutual). Dogs and cats were a constant in her life -- from Smokey the dog at her childhood farm to adopted dogs Preston (dachshund) and Gamina (standard poodle) at Jenners Pond. At home, she could usually be found with a cat in her lap, balancing a book and coffee cup.

Shortly after the pandemic, Anne moved to Jonesborough, Tenn., to live with daughter Catherine. Though she spent only five years in Tennessee, she made quite an impression on those she met, and was instrumental in starting a book club and puzzle groups at her last residence, Brookdale Senior Living, in Johnson City.

Anne was a woman of great intellect and curiosity – a voracious reader who could converse on most any topic (except sports). Her weekly hallmark: successfully completing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. In pen. Mistake-free. Her humble nature overrode any proclivity to boast, which made her a wonderful casual conversation companion for most anyone, regardless of interest or background.

Travel was also a great love. She visited her children and grandchildren in France and England several times, took many trips to unique destinations such as Iceland, Costa Rica, and the Orkney Islands, led several cross-country family camping trips, and visited frequently with close family in Freeville, NY (especially sister-in-law Jane, and nieces Rachel, Anne and Amy). She also took her grandchildren on weeklong Elderhostel trips. Adventures included journeys to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the volcanoes of Hawaii, and a wolf reserve in northern Minnesota. Anne’s most cherished trips, though, were later in life, when she shared a family beach week each year, rotating among cottages in Rehoboth Beach, Del., and beaches in Folly Beach and Edisto, SC.

Anne is survived by her children: Jack, Bob, Tom (Jucara), Catherine, Sarah, and Ken (Amy); grandchildren: Emily, Kristen, Kimberly, Kayla, Becca, Ben, Lea and Selene; and 13 great grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Brookdale Senior Living for their kind and compassionate care while Anne was a resident.

A private family celebration of Anne’s life will be held later this year.