Maria Murray died November 7, 2017 at Galax Health and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Golden LivingCenter – Blue Ridge).

She was born in Sparta, NC, on September 28, 1964, and was the daughter of Daniel (Tucker) and Lynne Wright Murray. Maria was born with special needs and required many operations and several admittances over the years in the UVA Hospital in Charlottesville, VA and Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. She became a resident of Blue Ridge Highlands Nursing Home in 1985 and was the longest living resident of the facility.

Maria loved the nursing home and all of the staff from the first day she arrived. She knew all of the staff and residents names and greeted most of the visitors by name for several years until an unfortunate episode of sepsis caused short-term memory loss. She went to the Mount Rogers IDC in Hillsville where she was able to carry out various tasks and earn extra money for shopping trips, as well as participate in the MANY activities the facility provides for their clients. She loved everything about the IDC and staff and would beg to go whenever her health problems prevented her from attending.
She loved all of the various church groups that came to the nursing home with their music and inspirational messages and would participate whenever possible.

Survivors include her mother, Lynne and step-father Jimmy Zeh, Galax, VA. Father, Dan and step-mother Dorothy Murray of Fuquay, NC. Sisters, Lori Anne and Todd Poole, South Hill, VA. Rachel "Neeky" and Nick Donaldson, Pulaski, VA. Step-sister, Amy and Kevin Slate, Roanoke, VA. Step-brother, David Zeh, Atlanta, GA. Three nieces, Morgan Mathews and McKenna Poole, South Hill, VA. Lacy Donaldson, Pulaski, VA. Step-niece, Abby Slate, Roanoke, VA. Four nephews, Tyler (and Charity) Mathews, Galax, VA. Cade Poole, South Hill, VA. Nicholas and Wayne Donaldson, Pulaski, VA. Step-nephew, Samuel Slate, Roanoke, VA. Great-nephew, Maverick Case Mathews, Galax, VA.

A celebration of Maria's life will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 2:00 PM in the Vaughan-Guynn Chapel with Eddie Bailey officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 1:00 PM until time for the service at the Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home.