Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | St. Lawrence County, NY
HEUVELTON - With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Merry (Mary) Murdock on November 1, 2026, at the age of 73, after a battle with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Throughout her life, Merry was friendly, outgoing, and loved connecting with people. A natural leader and organizer, she liked having a plan and doing things with purpose. Strong-willed and independent, she knew her own mind—qualities that made her unmistakably herself.
After graduating from Heuvelton Central School in 1971, Merry earned her Master of Arts in Teaching and later her Administration Certificate. She spent most of her adult life in Connecticut, where she taught home economics before retiring to Northeast Tennessee.
In retirement, she enjoyed quilting, traveling, movies, and breeding golden retrievers. In Tennessee, she became involved in several quilting groups, sharing her creativity and friendships with others.
Merry also treasured life’s simple pleasures. Wherever her travels took her, she loved finding a body of water where she could put her feet in and simply relax. It was therapeutic for her. At home, she enjoyed watching the wildlife, especially the hummingbirds that came to visit.
She is survived by her daughter, Amber Baker, and grandson, Cameron Baker, of Georgia; her son, Benjamin Fontneau, and daughter-in-law, Alyssa, of Connecticut; and her three siblings, Cheryl LeBlanc of Tennessee, James Murdock of New York, and Lisa Norman of Tennessee. She also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and their families, including Kaitlyn Norman, with whom she shared a particularly close bond.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Maclyn and Lois (Durand) Murdock, and her older brother, Jon.
At her request, no funeral or memorial services will be held. Instead, she left a simple suggestion for remembering her: “It would be fun if people raised a glass in my memory.”
So, raise a glass, put your feet in the water, or pause to watch a hummingbird.
Take a moment to remember Merry and celebrate the life she lived.
She lived life on her own terms, found joy in the little things, and leaves behind memories worth raising a glass to.
