MUIR, Merrie Ellen

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ December 01, 2006 Merrie Ellen Muir, 62, of East Chatham, N.Y. (born in Lynn, Mass.) died Nov. 25, 2006, after a long battle with leukemia. She was married to the late Gary Turner. As a teacher for youth offenders at Berkshire Farm in New Lebanon, N.Y., she developed a curriculum for teens with limited reading skills. A passionate and outgoing woman, her love of a challenge extended outside the classroom, as reflected by her study of the stock market and real estate. Soon after her retirement she became ill and had a successful bone marrow transplant with family and friends close by. Merrie took of advantage of her new lease on life by spending time with her family, walking with her beloved dog Chi Chi, and traveling extensively. She even returned to teaching reading in Cottonwood. She described the five years following her transplant as the happiest and most gratifying of her life. Survivors include her son Kevin (Samuel Richie); daughter Carrie (Greg Waid), of Tucson; brothers David Stoddard, of Beverly, Mass., and Bruce Stoddard, of Manchester, Mass.; sister Cynthia Connor, of Danvers, Mass.; and one grandchild. A memorial service was Nov. 30 in Danvers, Mass. Services will be planned for later dates in New Lebanon, N.Y. and Tucson. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in memory of Merrie Ellen Muir to Friends of Dana Farber Cancer Center, 44 Binney Street, Boston MA 02115.