Muriel Edith Tefft Newbury

Muriel Edith (Tefft) Newbury was born on August 3rd, 1930 in a little bungalow built by her father in Oakdale, CT. Muriel attended elementary school in a one room school house in Montville. There were eight grades in the one room. She worked very hard on the family farm driving tractors, picking strawberries and taking care of cows. She and her dad, who was the first selectman of Montville during the 1938 Hurricane, made a fine team taking care of her sickly mom and her frail older sister.

Muriel attended secondary school at the Norwich Free Academy. While there, she was a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps; she played the bugle. Her nickname was "Rusty", due to her beautiful brown hair with red highlights. After graduation, she got a job at the school working as a secretary. At her grandmother’s funeral, Muriel met and fell in love with a handsome young undertaker named Milford. They were married on June 26th, 1954 at the Montville Center Congregational Church with their reception in the chapel across the street. Unfortunately, their reception had to end rather quickly due to Muriel’s cows getting into the strawberry fields on the farm. The entire wedding was planned and completed within ten days due to Milford shipping out to Korea with the United States Navy.

The union of Muriel and Milford produced four children - Paul, Mark, Joy, and Daniel. Indeed, Muriel was lucky to have her father as first selectman, for when she was due to have Paul, the town plow truck plowed the unexpected snow out of her path as she was driven to the hospital in Norwich to deliver the baby. Muriel took time off from working to raise her four children full time. She and her friends Thelma Sweet and Nancy Grout opened the Montville Center Congregational Church Sunday School with twenty students ranging from preschool to high school. Muriel ran the nursery class in the chapel kitchen until her children also became Sunday School teachers. Muriel also started the church band with her children being band members playing the trumpet, clarinet, flute, and bass clarinet.

In addition to her parenting and church work, Muriel was a Cub Scout den mother, a Girl Scout leader, and secretary to the Boy Scout Council. Muriel was a member of the Advisory Board of the Order of Rainbow for Girls, a member of the Eastern Star, a member of the Grand Cross of Color, a member of the church, a member of the church’s choir, the church secretary, and a member of the church’s Ladies Social Union.

After all her children became teenagers, Muriel went back to work at The Norwich Free Academy and became a House Secretary for many years for various house masters. Muriel was always very proud to be part of the NFA family and especially enjoyed watching graduation and watching her children win many awards.

Indeed, Muriel was a strong valued woman who instilled hard work ethics in her children. Her greatest accomplishment was having two of her sons graduate from Harvard University on full scholarships and her other children graduating from The University of Connecticut.

Muriel is survived by her husband Milford of 61 years, her children, Paul and wife Candy, Mark and wife Robyn, Joy and husband Tag, and son Daniel. She also is survived by her six grandchildren, Jenni and husband Steve, Jason, Noah, Jonah (who shares her birthday), Sarah, and Ben (who also shares her birthday).

The family wishes to thank the people at Harrington Court Rehabilitation Center for their fine care and support of Muriel during the last several years, and also to the many nurses and doctors at Hartford Hospital who helped the family and Muriel during her last few days. And a special thanks to son Daniel Newbury who has managed her affairs for the past several years.

Friends may call on Thursday, September 10th from 4 pm to 7 pm at Church and Allen Funeral Home on Sachem Street in Norwich. A Christian burial service will be performed on Friday, September 11th at 11 am at the funeral home with interment at Maple Wood Cemetery to follow. For Muriel’s guestbook, please visit www.churchandallen.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Norwich Free Academy in memory of Muriel Newbury.