Margaret Murray Obituary

Margaret Ann Murray

Sep 20, 1939 - Jun 6, 2024

Sandusky

Margaret "Peggy" Murray's celebration of her life came to a peaceful close Thursday, June 6, 2024, surrounded in her last days, as in life, by family.

She was born and raised with her sister, Joanne, on a farm in Huron Township. Her parents were Margaret (Nolan) Nickels, as sweet an Irish lass as you might hope to meet, and Charlie Nickels, a hard-charging, successful, and inventive farmer. She was indeed the best of both.

Peggy graduated from Marquette University in 1961 with a B.A. in Latin and English and was always grateful for her Jesuit education. She married Dennis E. Murray on June 10, 1961, and he survives. They celebrated 63 years of a very full and special marriage. Peggy said that Dennis took her from a life of work to a life of excitement.

Peggy studied theology with Father Jim Bacik for many years, driving into Bowling Green and delivering holy communion to the sick and dying at Firelands Hospital. She served on the Providence Fund Board, receiving the Providence Woman of the Year Award. Peggy taught CCD in Huron and later Sandusky to Catholic, public school students for 15 years.

Peggy's community service was as broad and varied as her ever-curious mind. She was one of the founding members of the Firelands' affiliate of Habitat for Humanity and served as Volunteer Coordinator and Board member from 1989-2000. She was a member of Board Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Ohio from 1992-98 and led the capital campaign to build a million dollar state of the art Food Bank in Lorain. She served on the Board of Commissioners on Grievance and Discipline of the Supreme Court of Ohio from 1997-2001. Peggy combined her love of the outdoors and gardening by serving on the Board of McBride Arboretum as one of the founding members from 1989-2014. She also served on the Board of then Citizens (now Civista) Bank from 2010-2012, was a founding member of the Murray & Murray Charitable Foundation and a Lifetime Member of the Sandusky Unit of the NAACP.

In 1978, Peggy and Dennis were responsible for dedicating their land in Huron - located on Lake Erie at the intersection of Old Woman's Creek - to the state of Ohio. It is now known as Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve and the National Estuarine Research Reserve with an area dedicated as Peggy's Garden. Peggy established the Charles & Margaret Nickels Scholarship in 1991 in memory of her parents and in recognition of Mr. and Mrs. Nickels' belief in and support for education. The award supports college students majoring in agriculture, land management, or environmental sciences.

Peggy was first elected to Erie County Democratic Central Committee in 1986 and elected to State Central Committee for the Democratic Party in 2001, serving until 2006, and thereafter for many years on the County Committee. She was nominated as a delegate to Democratic National Convention in Boston with the support of her good friends, Clarence Seavers and Forester Finley. She was a lifelong member of the Democratic Women of Erie County, first joining with her mom, Marge Nickels, and then enjoying membership with her three daughters and two daughters-in-law. She proudly chaired Lee Fisher's campaign for Erie County for Attorney General. Early on, she saw the spark in Sherrod Brown, leading to an enduring friendship across decades including chairing his first Erie County Senate Campaign.

Peggy and Dennis enjoyed tennis with their great friends, Paul and Loretta Vasquez, for many years, and they both enjoyed golf, boating, reading, family, and their time in Florida for decades.

In addition to her devoted husband, Peggy is survived by her children, Dennis (Martha), Elizabeth (Mark) Newman, Charlie (Michelle), Florence, and Margaret; sister, Joanne (Dan) Shaughnessy; and 11 amazing grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be 4-6:30 p.m. Monday, June 10, 2024, at Groff Funeral Home, 1607 East Perkins Avenue, Sandusky. Peggy's Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at her home parish of St. Peter's Church, 430 Main Street, Huron. Inurnment will follow at Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky, at a later date.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Firelands Habitat for Humanity, 7602 Milan Road, Sandusky, Ohio, 44870.

Memories may be shared with Peggy's family at GroffFamilyServices.com.