Nancy A. Johnson

Nancy A. Johnson, 77 passed away April 2 with her loving family by her side. She had fought a courageous battle having multiple health issues. She was born in Cape Elizabeth, December 11, 1938, a daughter of the late William D. and Barbara (Leighton) Murray. Nancy was the oldest of 43 Murray grandchildren. She attended Cape schools graduating in the Class of 1957 where to this day, had many friends. She played the piano and glockenspiel for the chorus, orchestra and band and was active in sports and other school activities.

In 1960, Nancy graduated from The New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing receiving her RN. She than worked there for a time on the Medical Surgical Unit before moving to Maine to work in the Nephrology Unit at Maine Medical Center. She was a past member of the Nephrology Board. Nancy had a love and devotion to her nephrology patients and their families. This was demonstrated every evening when as charge nurse, she would make the “rounds” on all her patients, sit by their side and put her long Murray arm around them, instilling some amount of peace and trust in their uncertain world.

Later in her career she lived in Hancock, Me. working at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital ER Department. She then moved back to Cape Elizabeth to the house her father built and worked at Home Health Visiting Nurses. During her semi-retirement she enjoyed her vegetable garden and reading with her devoted dog, Olivia by her side. She was a member of the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church where she enjoyed her church friends and Judy’s Food Pantry in the Cape. Having come from a large farming, building and fishing family, she was well aware that there were families who needed some assistance – even in Cape Elizabeth! She worked to build the food pantry into a year- round venture with non-perishables in the winter months when the farms could not grow produce.

Nancy married Bruce M. Johnson and was a loving mother to Scott William Johnson and Diana Jill Johnson. They spent many summers at Watchic Lake where they always enjoyed water sports and time with family and extended family.

She leaves behind her loving wife of 21 years, Betty-Jane Shreve of Cape Elizabeth, her son Scott and his wife Jennie and granddaughter Nicole of Westhampton, MA and Los Angeles, CA., her daughter Diana Fournier and husband Stephen of So. Portland and their children Deirdre Beaupre and husband Andy of Hyde Park, VT, and Chase Fournier of Seattle, WA and 2 step grandchildren Carlin and Carson Stimus, 2 sisters, Betty Mullin, of Scarborough and Beverly Lowell and husband David of Kennebunk and 1 brother, Gerald Murray and wife Sharon of Cape Elizabeth and their son William D. Murray and wife Catherine of Standish. Nancy leaves her daughter-in-law Marcie McCullough Yager of Gorham and her husband Stephen and their daughters Emily and Julia and her son-in-law Colin McCullough, his 2 sons, Carric and Gareth McCullough of Sutton, MA. and her uncle, Arnold B. Murray of Cape Elizabeth As mentioned, Nancy was from a large blue collar Cape family. Nancy was predeceased by 10 aunts and uncle of her Murray/Peabbles grandparents, Alonzo and Emma (Peabbles) Murray of Cape Elizabeth and 3 uncles of her Leighton/Hannaford grandparents, Ralph and Ada (Hannaford) Leighton who were farmers living on Wells Road in Cape Elizabeth.

Nancy’s family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Cape Elizabeth Rescue, Dr. Kristy Murray-Pulsifer, Dr. Laurie Small and the staff at Maine Medical Center.

A memorial service and celebration of Nancy’s life will be held Thursday, April 7 at 2 PM from the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church, 280 Ocean House Rd., Cape Elizabeth. The Rev. Ruth Morrison will officiate. A burial will be at a later date at the convienence of the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church, 280 Ocean House Rd., Cape Elizabeth, ME. 04107 or Judy’s Food Panty, C/O Nancy Miles at the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by Jones, Rich, Hutchins Funeral Home, Portland. Please visit www.jonesrichhutchins for further information and to sign Nancy’s guestbook.