Natalie (Wallace) Murphy, a lifelong Reading resident—passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 12th at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House at age 97. She was the second of four children including Helen, James, and Eleanor. Natalie's parents impressed the importance of hard work and education on their children and Natalie graduated from Reading High School, went to college in Boston, worked for the Christian Scientist newspaper, and ran a daycare out of her home.

Natalie was married to her beloved late husband, Henry Murphy for 54 years. She is survived by her 3 children, Douglas Murphy, Nancy Kornegay, and James Murphy and their spouses as well as 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Natalie loved spending time with her family, vacationing with her late husband, growing fresh vegetables in her garden, and working on craft projects like braiding rugs, knitting, and crocheting. Some of her favorite memories were made at the island she bought with her husband on Bow Lake in Strafford, New Hampshire in 1949. Given the island's distance from shore, Natalie was known as a fantastic rower whose strong hands literally wore down her green oars getting to and from the island. While there, Natalie loved watching and listening to the loons, swimming, reading, picking blueberries, playing board games, and completing puzzles. Her presence and legacy will live on at "the island" for generations to come.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn St.) Reading on Thursday October 12 at 11:00AM. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00-11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bear-Paw Regional Greenways in honor of "The Bennett Island Project," Post Office Box 19, Deerfield, NH 03037.