Barbara Richardson Murray
Barbara Richardson Murray died in peace and beauty on Oct. 10, 2023, just shy of her 98th Birthday.
She was born Oct. 18, 1925, in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Jasper (1900-1965) and Annabelle (LaPlante) Richardson (1899-1931). Raised in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, she was a proud graduate of the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1946 — and always took the class anthem, Bluebird of Happiness, to heart.
Visiting family in Bar Harbor on a brief vacation in the summer of 1946, she met a tanned, handsome, recently discharged Navy lieutenant, Laurence Harold (Larry) Dowling. They each went to a dance at the casino with dates- and left with each other. They were engaged within weeks and married in April, 1947. A few months later they weathered the Bar Harbor Fire. The night of Oct. 23, Barbara sat with her new family — trapped on the Athletic Field that night of Oct. 23rd with what appeared to be the world in flames all around and burning embers clanging on the roof of the car — quietly if not quite calmly knitting.
Barbara was a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps through the end of WWII. She enticed several fellow graduates to follow her to Mt. Desert Island and Bar Harbor (no longer named Eden), to accept positions at the Bar Harbor Hospital. Barbara stayed in touch with these nurses through the years — as long as possible. Many benefited from this influx of nursing talent — including James Richardson Dowling, born there Jan. 21, 1950.
Barbara Richardson Murray
Barbara later made homes in Boston, Schenectady, New York, Wilmington, Massachusetts, Pembroke/Suncook, New Hampshire, Allenstown/Bear Brook, New Hampshire, and E. Lebanon, Maine. She moved to Ocean Park, Maine, and The Pines in 1992, and lived there until moving to The Inn at Atlantic Heights, in Saco. She continued to work as a nurse until retiring to care for her (second) husband in 1990 — and in later years embodied the phrase, Once a Nurse, Always a Nurse. She provided transportation (in her very large car) to neighbors who needed rides until deciding — firmly and completely on her own — to give up driving due to Macular Degeneration. She was a 30+-Year member of the First Parrish Congregational Church of Saco.
Barbara was predeceased by a brother, Donald Foster Richardson (1918-2009); her second husband, R. Bernard “Bernie” Murray (1898-1992); and a daughter, Jane Elizabeth Dowling (1955-1972). She is survived by a sister-in-law, Joyce Richardson, of San Antonio, Texas; two cousins, Margaret “Peggy” Lee of Tampa, Florida, and Anne Madsen, of Suffield, Connecticut; a devoted friend, Cindy Stevens, of Ocean Park, Maine; and her son, Jim Dowling, of E. Winthrop, Maine, who keeps hearing various versions of We’ll Meet Again. Seven nieces and nephews share in remembering their Aunt Bobbie. She has joined the Ancestors.
A beautiful, generous, talented, wise, quietly elegant soul has moved on to her next life. It is Finished. It is Done. It is Well.
Memorial Gifts may be sent to: Maine State Library, Talking Book Program, Maine Series, c/o Jeff Meiczinger, 64 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.
A graveside service will be held Wednesday Oct. 18, 2023 at 12:00 noon at the Head Cemetery in Hooksett, New Hampshire.
Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home 365 Main St., Saco, Maine 04072 are entrusted with her services.
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