Cumberland, MD - Laura Vere Murray, 98, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 3, 2026.

Laura was a woman of chosen and conscious faith. She was a charter member of Christ Lutheran Church, LaVale, Md. When recently discussing death and dying, she exhibited calm, confident, comfort in saying, "I'm not afraid." Prayer was a constant in Laura's life.

Laura Vere was born Sept. 11, 1927, in Westernport, Md., the daughter of Cecil Johnson and Georgia (Plum) Johnson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, Dr. Jack L. Murray Sr.; sisters, Rosalie Papageorge, Barbara Porter, Karen Gailey; and daughter-in-law, Katie (Havenga) Murray.

Raised up with her roots in Parsons, W.Va., through 10th grade, her family moved to Ridgeley, W.Va., where she graduated from Ridgeley High School in 1945.

Ahead of her time, Laura Vere was an independent, strong-willed, working woman. Early on, while her husband attended Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, Mo., her work years began as a supermarket head cashier. Locally, Laura Vere was employed at Queen City Dairy, Murphy's 5 &10, Celanese Corp., and Kelly Springfield Tire Co. When "the boys coming back from the war" caused her furlough, she worked for Montgomery Ward as a Catalog Department bookkeeper. Laura raised her four children at home, until the youngest started school. It was then that Laura Vere's second career began, and for the next 20 years, she served as a chiropractic assistant and office receptionist in her husband's practice until they both retired.

Laura Vere enjoyed traveling with her husband Jack in their motor homes, visiting every state and Canada. Highlights of her many adventures included: a tour sponsored by Lions Club International to Barrow, Alaska, and her enjoyable experience making fast friends with the Eskimo tribe there, visiting Hawaii to attend a National Chiropractic Convention, and then flying to Japan, where her husband had served in World War II.

Here, Laura Vere vividly remembers visiting Japan's one-time capital city of Kyoto, with its beautiful gardens, shrines and temples left unscathed by the ravages of war. Laura supplemented her first-hand travel knowledge by reading all of James A. Michener's novels — 40 in all! Laura was a proud American.

Laura Vere was very active in the community, and in addition to her charter membership in Christ Lutheran Church, for over 60 years, she was a member of The Cumberland Jaycees Women; McKinley Chapter No. 12, Order of the Eastern Star; and Re Temple #118, Daughters of the Nile, where she served as Queen in 1964. She attended the Supreme Session in Portland, with husband Jack. Shriners International works to support the Shriners Crippled Children's Hospitals at no cost to the parents.

Laura Vere served as a charter member of Western Maryland Women's Bowling Association and Maryland State Women's Bowling Association, where she served as president for seven years and designed their association's flag. She was a charter member of The Classic League, bowling at The Bowler in LaVale, where she had a high game of 297. She was a life member of both the Maryland State Men's and Women's bowling associations.

Laura Vere loved to play, especially card games and bridge. She belonged to a local two-table duplicate bridge club and was a member of a three-table duplicate bridge club at the Cumberland County Club. Laura Vere also belonged to the local Ham Radio Club with her husband Jack. Throughout life, Laura Vere enjoyed doing daily crossword and sudoku puzzles, too.

Laura Vere loved her "Lake Family." Since 1967, she and husband Jack were charter members of the Castaway Yacht Club on the Youghiogheny River, where all who loved Laura spent many long, wonderful weekends. Every year in July, the club sponsored a "4th of July Boat Light-Up Parade," where decorated boats paraded up and down the river with on-lookers anchored out or on the shoreline enjoying the festivities. Laura always loved that event.

Laura Vere was extremely crafty, thoughtful and caring in her creative ways. When she and Jack were "snowbirds" for a number of years at River Ranch, Fla., Laura Vere was well-known for hand-crafting jointed stuffed fur bears. She made all sizes of stuffed bears with life-like eyes and noses, cutting her patterns from real fur coats!

Laura Vere had many shared talents. She did counted cross stitch, crewel and embroidery. With care, every season she would decorate her corner tree in her home. With its crystals, flowers of the month, colored ribbons and lights, it made every day a holiday to enjoy. Later, she made it a "bear" tree that stayed up all year loaded with stuffed bears.

Laura Vere welcomed all — family and friends, as well as foster children — into her family and beamed with pride whenever they gathered. Laura Vere was a wonderful hostess. She built a family culture of togetherness and celebration. Most assuredly, her baking specialties of apple dumplings and caramel sticky buns will be missed. She was a central figure in the lives of so many.

Laura Vere Murray is thankful to God for all her "kin-folk" family and friends over her many blessed years for their love, understanding, generosity and assistance. She often expressed her pride in her children — as brothers, sisters and best friends, how they depend on and support each other; how her grandchildren, and "greats," share the same; how they work, comfort, raise families and celebrate all of life together and throughout life as one. Her home was known as the "Family Home," where all special events took place.

Laura Vere wishes to also thank Christ Lutheran's Reach Meal Committee, and with a wink and a smile, asks her church family for continued prayers. She sends love and laughter to her Lake family, especially Milo Grimes. Thanks, as well, to Amy Harman, Joanna Tracy and Mary Ruddell, who provided transportation to her bridge games. Also, her special friends Debbie Boone, Nancy Twigg, Susan Sturtz and Rick Smith — to each and every one she sends her strong hug and sweet kiss.

Most importantly, Laura Vere wants all to know how much she loved you, saying directly, "No words can express my feeling toward you. May God bless every one, and thanks for the memories! One is never gone until they are forgotten."

Laura Vere (Johnson) Murray is survived by her brother, John Teter, of Florida. She is also survived by her four beloved children, Dr. Jack L. Murray Jr., Vickie Murray, David Murray and wife Karen, and Kimberly Redmond and husband Mark; her nine grandchildren, Tricia Witt and husband Bobby, Anna Stewart, Jamie Bailey and husband Nick, Cassie Murray and wife Jacquelyn Breeden, Jaclyn Stout, Cory Stout, Michelle Redman Shelton and husband Brett, Scott Ackerman and wife Anita, and Kimberly Severino and husband Steve; and her 19 great-grandchildren who lovingly called her "G.G.," Logan and Hope O'Brien, Victoria Jade Witt Nestler and husband Jessie, Megan Rashell Irving, Anya Murray, Alayzia Ward, Sebastian Stewart, Surae Stewart, Hailey Moore, Cole Moore, Blake Bailey, Taylor Curtis and her partner Hunter Tucker, Kyleigh Shelton, Brielle Shelton, Steel Shelton, Lucas Severino, Lia Severino, Nathan Severino, Daniel Ackerman, and Isabella Ackerman; and her great-great-grandchildren, Malachi and Lily Ann O'Brien giving her 28 living descendants.

Everyone was proud to see five living generations with the 2020 birth of Malachi. Also welcomed into the family was Finn Stewart, first cousin of Sebastian and Surae Stewart.

Laura Vere was a supporter of many causes, including over 40 years of donating blood to the American Red Cross in Cumberland, Md., and traveling with others to donate in Johnstown, Pa.

Friends will be received at Christ Lutheran Church, 1222 Vocke Road, LaVale, Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. Re Temple #118, D.O.N., will conduct a memorial service at 3:30 p.m.

The funeral service will follow at 4 p.m., with Pastor Daniel Swanson officiating.

Inurnment will be at Maryland State Veterans Cemetery, Rocky Gap, Monday, March 9, at noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Re Temple #118, D.O.N., c/o Judith, PQ, 8 Richard Way, LaVale, MD 21502; Daughters of the Nile Foundation, 6705 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 78731; or to the Ali Ghan Shrine Center, P.O. Box 1416, Cumberland, MD 21501-1416.