Sarah (Sally) Murray Grishaw of Nokomis, Florida, died on December 8, 2024, at the age of 96, at home and surrounded by her family. She was born on November 15, 1928 to Carol H. Murray and David R. Murray in Traverse City, Michigan.

Two older brothers, David R. Murray II and Ben A. Murray, and one granddaughter, Sarah Grishaw, preceded her in death.

Sally grew up on a large cherry farm on the Old Mission Peninsula. Her parents also operated a silver fox farm in the 1920s and a summer farm camp for children from Chicago during the 1930s on their East Bay property, fostering Sally’s love of animals.

After graduating from Traverse City High School in 1946, Sally attended Indiana University in Bloomington for one year, subsequently transferring to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she graduated with a BA in Education in 1950. Always interested in seeing new places, Sally went west after graduation to teach school in Portland, Oregon, but returned to a teaching job in Traverse City one year later. In the course of her career in early childhood education, she taught kindergarten and first grade classes at Old Mission, Eastern, Oak Park and East Bay elementary schools in Traverse City.

Sally married a fellow teacher, Donald Grishaw, from Indiana, whose family operated a neighboring cherry farm, in 1953. Together they raised four girls, continued to grow cherries on the Old Mission Peninsula and enjoyed long teaching careers in Traverse City. They were married for 71 years.

After retiring from cherry-farming and teaching in 1984, Sally and Don moved to Nokomis, Florida for the winters, but looked forward to spending every summer in Leland, Michigan. They enjoyed travelling all over the world, visiting six continents until well into their 80s. Sally loved gardening, painting, doing jigsaw puzzles and reading, especially when one of her beloved cats was on her lap.

Sally was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. She is survived by her husband Donald Grishaw; daughters Letty Grishaw, Lisa (Klaus) Grishaw-Mueller, Carol (Fred) Klingbeil and Jane Grishaw; grandchildren Chloe (Josh) Floyd, Anna (MIchael) Lanier, Benjamin Grishaw, Andreas (Khaoula) Mueller, Christopher (Valerie) Krappitz, Timothy Mueller, Kate Klingbeil, William Klingbeil, John Klingbeil, Mollie Grishaw; and greatgrandchildren Fernanda Krappitz, Kai Floyd and Elio Mueller.

Having taught innumerable children to read and being a voracious reader herself, Sally loved libraries. Those wishing to express sympathy through donations may give to the Leland Township Public Library in Leland, Michigan or to the Friends of Venice Public Library in Venice, Florida. In addition, Sally was an animal lover since her childhood. Donations to St. Francis Animal Rescue in Venice, Florida would be appreciated.