Obituary of Lorraine Audrey Smith-Murray

Ms. Lorraine Audrey Smith Murray of Middletown, NY, 82, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, September 20, 2013 at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, NY. Lorraine was born in Woodbourne, NY on January 20, 1931 to Lester Smith Sr. and Myrtle Kortright Smith. She was the third of four children. She graduated from Liberty High School where she enjoyed playing on the girls baseball and basketball teams. When she came of age, she drove a Taxi for the family business, often making many trips from Sullivan County into Middletown. Afterward, she worked for the local telephone company in Sullivan County. She married Edward F. Murray, a serviceman, on May 4, 1951; together they traveled to Lake Charles Louisiana where their first son was born. Their first daughter was born, in 1957, in Istanbul Turkey. Also during that year Lorraine and her family moved back to the U.S. to New Vernon, NY where they became proprietors of The New Vernon Tavern; three more children would follow. Lorraine worked cooking for the restaurant/bar and attending the business while raising her family at "the tavern" for ten years. Ultimately the family sold their business and moved to Johnson, NY where they lived until 1985. After that time, she lived in Middletown. Lorraine worked for Tel-Rad Message Center in Middletown for 18 years as an operator, and then for Middletown Park Manor in Middletown as a receptionist / secretary until 1995 when she retired. Most recently Lorraine lived at The Promenade at Middletown, and recently at Middletown Park Health and Rehab. Center, Middletown. Special thanks go to all the staff and residents of both establishments for their care and support toward Mom and our family. Survivors include her children: son, Ed Murray and his wife, Joy of Chesapeake, VA, Bonnie Murray and her partner, Aubrey Carlyle of Sykesville, MD, Patricia Ernst and her husband, John of Mt. Hope, NY and Lisa Holvey and her husband, James of Pine Bush, NY; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Lorraine also leaves behind many dear nieces and nephews. Lorraine was predeceased by her parents, Lester and Myrtle; her brothers, Raymond Smith and Lester Smith; her sister, Marion Hewlett; and her son, Terrence Lee Murray. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24th at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Rt. 52, Woodbourne, NY. A service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25th at the Funeral Home followed by burial at Grahamsville Rural Cemetery, Grahamsville, NY. Arrangements were under the direction of Colonial Bryant Funeral Homes and Cremation Services; for further information please call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com