Elaine Julie Murray, of Virginia Beach, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of September 5, 2024, at her home in the company of family and friends and with her beloved dog, Bria, by her side.

She was born September 8, 1937, at the Norwegian Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, and spent much of the first years of her life living at sea with her father, Edgar Waaler, Captain in the Norwegian Merchant Marine, and her mother, Oddny Hansen. Her ocean voyages of tens of thousands of miles while still a toddler were featured in Life magazine and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!

She spent her childhood in Brooklyn and Long Island, NY, raised by a loving family, including her Mor Mor and special Tante Rigmor. She graduated from Amityville High School in 1955. Elaine married the love of her life, Charles R. “Bump” Murray, Jr. (Captain, USMC), in April 1959 at Massapequa, NY. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Edgar K. Waaler, and aunt Rigmor McCann. Elaine is survived by her beloved son Eric M. Murray of Salt Springs, Florida, cousin Robert McCann, nephews Robert Waaler and Edgar Waaler, extended
family in the US and Scandinavia, and many devoted friends.

While living in Manila, Philippines, Elaine worked in retail management at the military base exchange and then went on to work at Sears Roebuck and Miller and Rhoads department stores in Hampton Roads. Her love of animals, especially dogs, was second to none. She and Bump owned and operated Animal Palace on Bonney Road in Virginia Beach for several years before she started boarding dogs in her home. Over the years, she welcomed hundreds of dogs and their human companions into her home, and they were all treated like family. Elaine’s joy in caring for animals was matched by her pride in being Norwegian-American. She was a long-time member of the Sons of Norway, where she made many of her closest friends. She also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society.

Elaine was known for her love of entertaining and infectious sense of humor. She immensely enjoyed her home and was helped by so many to maintain her independence, particularly the
care and assistance given by Kathy, Faye, Barbara, Linda, and Paula and neighbors Paul, Margie, Dottie, and Tim. In lieu of flowers, Elaine would appreciate being remembered with a donation to the Virginia Beach SPCA.

The family welcomes friends to visit on Saturday afternoon, September 14th, from 4:00 to 7:00, to share love and memories of Elaine at her home, 409 Cedar Lane, Virginia Beach.