Muriel Bennett Buckingham, 87, of Errol, NH passed peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, January 4th, 2020 at Hillsborough County Nursing Home, Goffstown, NH.

Muriel was born in Long Branch, NJ on April 19th, 1932 to John Bennett and Marjorie Bennett. A sister to two brothers, Muriel grew from a young age to love adventure.

A lifelong lover of the ocean, sun and sand, Muriel grew up enjoying cookouts on the New Jersey shore with her family. Muriel loved boating with her family, especially when they took her dad's boat to Sandy Hook to watch the 4th of July fireworks over Lady Liberty, a favorite memory she shared with her children later in life.

Muriel grew up close to the Monmouth Race track and was a pony rider for jockeys on race days. While she loved having fun, Muriel was also dedicated to her education, and after graduating from Monmouth Community College she worked as a legal aide to judges.

Marriage brought new adventures, with travels across America and the Caribbean. Her husband was stationed in Japan and Muriel embraced the experience. From her new home, she could see Mount Fuji and she loved to zip around Japan in her little MG.

After returning stateside, Muriel shared her love of travel with her children and eventually her grandchildren. She traveled all of Route One from Fort Kent, Maine to Key West, Florida. She summered in the Adirondacks and wintered on the Florida coast, always chasing the sun.

Muriel enjoyed boating and adventuring into her golden years, spending recent summers enjoying the sights on Sebago Lake with her family. In the last years of her life, Muriel lived with her daughter and son-in-law overlooking Umbagog Lake in Errol, NH. She loved watching the wildlife and farm animals from the porch.

Muriel is survived by her daughter, Joy Buckingham and her husband, Ward LaValley, Jr. of Errol, NH; granddaughter, Elizabeth Buckingham, her husband, Adam Connor and their daughter Gwendolyn Connor of Saco, ME; her grandsons Benjamin Rourke and Brian Rourke Jr., and extended family, step grandchildren Kyle LaValley and his wife Ericka of Nashua, NH and Kaitlin LaValley and her children Kadrian and Skyler of Weare, NH. \

Muriel is preceded in death by her husband, Philip Buckingham; her sons Brian Rourke and GlennRourke; her father, John Bennett; her step father, Harry Lippincott, her mother, Marjorie Bennett Lippincott; and her brothers Thomas Bennett and Walter Bennett.

Per her wishes, a small family gathering will be held in the spring for the interment of herremains alongside her son, Brian, in the family plot. In lieu of flowers and donations, pleaseconsider listening to her favorite song, "In the Garden" in her memory. John 20: 11 - 18.