Dorothy Irish Murray

Dorothy Irish Murray passed away at the Chapman House in Auburn on Friday June 30, 2023. She received the best of care by her Chapman House and Hospice nurses. Known as " Dot", she was loved by the residents and will be missed. She didn't look her 104 years and was frequently urged to slow down with her walker on the way to the dining room.

Dorothy was born on Vine St, Auburn, Maine, April 21,1919 to Grace Dana Irish and Earland Orlando Irish. Her mother Grace, whose father was an overseer at the Bates Mill, was an accomplished pianist and played for Clara Harnden Desjardins' dance studio. Her father Earland was in the milk business and had 2 horses named Dot and Billy who pulled the wagon to deliver milk. Dorothy continued her love for horses, enjoying riding lessons summers at Camp Wyonegonic in Bridgton.

Dorothy had one brother, Earland Harold Irish, who was 3 years older. He had all the childhood diseases of that time including diphtheria, measles, and whooping cough. Many children died during that time. Dorothy's grandmother, Euphemia Dana, nicknamed "Fame", burned sulphur and continually fumigated the house. Dorothy didn't catch any of these diseases. She lived through the depression of 1929 and said that her father always had a job. He grew up on a farm in Turner and had 2 brothers with farms. He worked at Haskell Implement Company, sold John Deere farm equipment and later on worked for a car dealership.

Dorothy attended Lake Street School, Webster Junior High School, and graduated from the old Edward Little High School in 1937. Her parents moved to a home on Conant Avenue above Goff Hill where she brought up her family and lived most of her life. She remembered walking to school, down and up Goff Hill, sometimes twice a day. During middle school Dorothy participated in a sled dog race at Pettingill Park in Auburn. Her beloved German Shepherd named Lindy pulled her on a sled which she stood on the back of, holding only a rope. She gave Lindy commands by snapping her fingers to go right or left, using his name and pointing the direction. They won the race against teams of dogs. She also enjoyed swimming and canoeing, doing the J-stroke and learning to gunnel a canoe at summer camp.

In high school Dorothy was a drum majorette for the American Legion Band and Edward Little High School Band and was on the tumbling team. She would do cartwheels all around the gym. During her junior year she met her future husband Frank W. Murray who had moved to Auburn from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Dorothy had been practicing piano at the Philharmonic Studio on Main Street, Auburn. On the walk home she stopped at Jimmy's Diner where she was introduced to Frank by a friend. She was also selected Miss Lewiston, and her best friend Helen Cummings was Miss Auburn.

Dorothy attended Nasson College in Springvale, Maine where she studied secretarial courses. She left college to marry Frank in 1938 and later on worked as a secretary and teller at the First National Bank of Lewiston at the Auburn Branch. She worked as Executive Secretary at Poland Spring Job Corps for the Security Department and was a partner with her husband Frank at Ben Alpren Co., which she took over during her husband's long illness.

Dorothy would do anything to help her family. Her secretarial work helped to pay for her older son Bruce to attend Hebron Academy and other preparatory schools, and to pay for his piano lessons. To provide a safer home for her younger son Garth, wife Lise and baby daughter, who were living in Texas, she purchased a trailer home and an Oldsmobile car to pull it. It was about 50 feet total length. Dorothy tested the rig down Lisbon Street and decided she was "capable of going anywhere". She loved to drive! She hauled this trailer home from Maine to the Gulf of Texas with the help of a 16 year-old passenger, the brother of her daughter-in-law, along for the ride to help her with hook-ups. Dorothy found help along the way to park at motels, since she didn't know how to back this rig up!

Dorothy has always been quick to offer to help her children and grandchildren, all of whom have lived with her at various times. She was known for her wonderful parties from high school years throughout her life, for home cooked meals at family gatherings, decorated birthday cakes, and apple pies. At 100 years of age she still played bridge with friends and loved to drive her car. She passed on her work ethic, her love of family and friends, as well as her love for animals and outdoor activities to her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Parsons (Henry), daughter-in-law Lise Murray, grandchildren Dana Hayman (Kim), Maie Wakefield (Darren), John Parsons (Kayla), Shannon Cloutier (Jason), Scott Murray (Cara), Melissa Stevick (Andy), Travis Wright (Claudia) great grandchildren, Ryan Parsons, William and Ava Wakefield, Liam, Owen, and Kaiden Parsons, Delia and Avery Cloutier, Everett and Wyatt Murray, Isla Stevick, James Wright, and nephew Harold Smith (Linda). She is predeceased by sons, Bruce Dana Murray and Garth Scott Murray, parents, Grace and Earland, brother, Earland (Madeline), son-in-law, Henry Parsons, and niece, Nancy Smith.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice, 15 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, Maine 04240.