Mary Diane Murie, age 85, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025, in her home under the loving care of her life partner, Bill Huber

Mary was born to Marian (Pierce) Schuster and Victor Schuster on February 18, 1940. She spent her childhood years primarily in Evanston, Illinois with her parents and younger brother Thomas Pierce Bouchard. When Mary was 5, her parents’ union ended, her mother subsequently marrying Ernest H. Bouchard. This union was blessed with two children, first Larry and then little Yvonne.

After graduating high school, Mary attended Northwestern University in Illinois and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian. Mary furthered her education attending the University of Essex in Colchester, England and obtained her Master of Arts in Comparative Literature in 1976. Mary attended the University of Arkansas and obtained her Master of Fine Arts in Literary Translation through the Creative Writing program in 1992.

Fascinated by language, Mary was gifted in learning foreign languages and became fluent in French, Spanish and Russian, and could “get by” in Italian and German. Mary used her French while working at the Canadian Consulate in Minnesota, and later taught English, ESL, and Spanish at the high school and college level. Additionally, she was an instructor at the Writing Center at the University of Arkansas, and later worked as a medical transcriptionist at Washington Regional Medical Center. Mary retired in 2012.

Mary had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel. She very much enjoyed taking her three children on trips, covering at least half the lower 48 states, and parts of Europe – England, France and Spain. She also took her grandchildren on trips, including trips to France, Jamaica, and Hawaii. France was perhaps her favorite destination; she visited many times, with friends and particularly with her partner Bill. She also visited Russia, Italy, Amsterdam, Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, Martinique, Alaska and Panama.

While at Northwestern University, Mary met and married Donald Murie, and they had three children: Julie Murie (1963), Thomas Murie (1964), and James Murie (1966). The marriage ended in 1970. It was in 1977 that Mary met Bill Huber; in 1978 they moved to Elkins, Arkansas and embarked on a rural lifestyle. Mary was an avid gardener and loved her vegetable garden and gorgeous flower beds. She and Bill also raised chickens, sheep, pigs, a couple cows, and goats. Mary became well known among family and friends for the delicious goat cheese she made. And of course one must mention her cats; she especially loved her kitties, which is apropos, as kitty was indeed her first.

Mary has five grandchildren whom she adored, referring to them as her treasures. In fact, she helped raise them. Whenever she saw them her face would light up. They gave her so much joy, and she gave them a lens with which to view the world and the strength to face it with courage and empathy.

Mary loved art, literature, dancing, all sorts of music including classical, opera, folk, 50s, 60s, anything that spoke to her. Mary was affable and at ease in formal settings, or could sit around comfortably with a bunch of sailors in a bar. She was a most equable, non-judgmental, unassuming person, always ready to hear another point of view. She was curious, witty, encouraging, fearless, and charming. She could win over almost anyone, or diffuse a tense situation. She taught her children and grandchildren that life was to be experienced – to reach out without fear, to taste life, to feel, love, hurt, cherish, share, and have empathy for others.

Mary is preceded in death by her mother Marian Bouchard, father Victor Schuster, her beloved stepfather Ernest Bouchard, and youngest brother Larry Bouchard.

Mary is survived by her partner Bill Huber, daughter Julie Murie and her partner John Gray, son Thomas Murie and his wife Melissa Murie, son James Murie and his wife Kim Murie, and five grandchildren: Elena Degago, Jeremy Degago, Margaret Murie, Arlo Murie, and Carina Murie, and one great grandchild, Jalen Murie, all of Fayetteville, Arkansas, as well as brother Tom Bouchard and his wife Sissy Bouchard of Heartland, Wisconsin, and sister Yvonne Bouchard and her partner Russ Morse of Homer, Alaska. Mary also leaves behind a niece and four nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank https://nwafoodbank.givecloud.co/donatetoday

Spending time with a good friend would also be a good way to honor Mary.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 2-5 PM at 147 W. Miller Street, Fayetteville, AR 72703.

This is a casual, informal drop-in event.