Roger E. Murray

SOUTH PORTLAND — Roger E. Murray, 78, of South Portland died June 15, 2017, at home after a period of declining health.

He was born in Rumford on February 18, 1939, the eldest child of Earl C. and Jennie Anderson Murray. He attended Mexico Public Schools and graduated salutatorian of his class at Mexico High School in 1957. He kept in close touch with his classmates over the years and was active in their anniversary reunions.

Roger earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Maine in 1962. He was student band director of the Army ROTC Band and, after graduation, served as an officer with the 228th U.S. Army Signal Corps in Georgia and North Carolina. He was a member of Theta Chi social fraternity and later was instrumental in developing a Theta Chi Alumni Association for Southern Maine and New Hampshire.

In 1961, he married his college sweetheart, Barbara Hackett of Biddeford. The wedding was held at the Canterbury Chapel on the Orono Campus of the University of Maine.

Roger was an officer with Hannaford Bros. for many years. He was a volunteer with the United Way and served as a trustee of Thomas College. Roger served as an officer of both the South Portland and the Portland chambers of commerce. He was also active in the Personnel Management Association of Greater Portland.

Roger was active in the Appalachian Mountain Club and led many canoe and hiking trips. He was proud of being a member of the AMC 4,000-Footer Club, having climbed all the mountains over 4,000 foot elevation in New England.

In 1983, he and Barbara opened a travel agency in Portland which they operated for 17 years. They also ran a travel agent training school for seven years. The agency and school won many franchise awards, and Roger served on many elected and appointed positions with the Travel Agents International franchise. He earned the coveted designation of certified travel consultant in 1989. In 1997, he was named “SCOTSMaster” by the Scottish Tourist Board, the only person in Maine so honored up to that time. He and Barbara thoroughly enjoyed travel and visited many countries on six continents. Active in many professional travel organizations, Roger served as president of the local chapter of the American Society of Travel Agents.

Roger was active with the Saint Andrew’s Society of Maine and served as treasurer for many years. He was master of ceremonies at functions on many occasions, particularly at the Scottish Highland Games held annually by the society.

Roger served as lay reader, vestryman, warden and treasurer of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke; and served on many Bishop-appointed committees for the Episcopal Diocese of Maine. In 2003, he was elected vestryman of the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul in Portland, and in 2005, was appointed for a term as senior warden. He was a communicant at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Falmouth.

After “retirement,” Roger continued to pursue his love of travel and he enjoyed a few days each week as test center administrator at the Prometric Testing Center in South Portland.

He had a love of history and later in life volunteered as a docent at the South Portland Historical Society Museum.

Roger is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara; a son, Eric of Marietta, Ga.; two daughters, Heidi Foss of Grants Pass, Ore., and Holly Ayoob of Biddeford; six grandchildren, George and Katherine Murray, Imagin and Trinity Foss and Asia Tellez and Trevor Steele; and one great-granddaughter, Fiona Tellez. He is also survived by his sister, Darlene Taylor of Mexico.