GUILFORD – Laura Murch Pratt, 90, wife of the late Vance A. Pratt, passed away peacefully Dec. 1, 2011, at home. She was born March 10, 1921, in East Dover, daughter of Ora and Clara (Hanson) Murch.
After her family, Laura’s greatest loves were taking care of others, cooking and the outdoors. Laura loved to cook; everyone was invited and no one ever left her table hungry.
In her later years she spent her summers at her favorite place, her camp in Bowerbank on Sebec Lake. Laura loved to be surrounded by her family here, listening to the sounds of her great-grandchildren playing and the calming waves lapping at the shore. She would write poetry and tell stories of days gone by, never lacking for an audience. Laura was always generous with her time for charity. She knitted hundreds of hats and mittens throughout the years for the hospital and local schools. Laura was active as a Girl Scout leader, from Brownies through Senior Scouting. She was a past worthy matron of Almeda Chapter No. 149 Order of the Eastern Star, Guilford; a past advisory board member of the Order of Rainbow for Girls No. 17, Guilford; and past worthy master of Valley Grange No. 144, Guilford Center, for 23 years. She had served as junior deputy for the Maine State Grange and on the State Grange agricultural committee and the State Grange youth committee; and as officer and member of Piscataquis County Extension.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Vance, in 1997; her daughter, Joyce, in 1954; her brother, Frank Murch; and her sister, Marjorie Smith. She is survived by her sister, Irene Bonsey of Dover-Foxcroft; two daughters and favorite son-in-law, Sharon Stoddard of Concord, N.H., and Nathalee and Floyd Marsh of Guilford; six grandchildren, Vance Stoddard and his wife, Darlene, of Milton, Fla., Heidi Stoddard Smith and her husband, Murray, of Kiama, Australia, Conrad Marsh and Jen Devou, of Dover-Foxcroft, Don Harper and his wife, Erin, of Windham, Malissa Labarre and her husband, Kenny, of Marlboro, Mass., and Angela Smith and her husband, Roger, of Gorham; and 11 great-grandchildren. She also leaves two sisters-in-law, Violet Murch and Eleanor Fuller; several nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to call 1 p.m. until the time of funeral service 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft, with Pastor Ray Beless officiating. Burial will be at North Atkinson Cemetery. After the services, friends and family are invited to share fellowship at Floyd and Nathalee Marsh’s home, 38 Butter St., Guilford. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Valley Grange, care of Mary Annis, 28 Orchard Road, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 or Community Health and Counseling, 1093 West Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at
www.laryfuneralhome.com.