Arielle B. Murri

SALISBURY — Mrs. Arielle B. Murri, 90, passed away quietly at her home in Salisbury, on Feb. 9, 2012. She was born Nov. 8, 1922, at the Presidio in San Francisco, Calif.

Her father was a test pilot and airplane mechanic. Her parents moved to Santa Monica, Calif., where her father died in 1924.

Arielle moved with her mother, Helene Arlington, and her sister, Mary Avis Ballard, back to Manhattan, where they lived until World War II, when they moved briefly to Washington, D.C.

She attended high school in Staten Island, N.Y. Arielle loved her work through her teens and early twenties as a fashion model for Jacque Fath and Pauline Trigere.

She married at 18 and has one son, Jeremy Endicott Ballard-Neal. In 1955, Arielle moved to Aspen, Colo., to open a gift store with her sister. There she met Robert Murri. They married March 29, 1956.

Together they lived in Colorado, where Robert owned and operated a ski area in Loveland. Robert was heavily involved in the early days of skiing and they often talked fondly of their time in Aspen. Later they moved to Saint Simon Island, S.C., and for the past 25 years made their home on Undermountain Road in Salisbury.

Arielle’s love and life revolved around rescuing animals. Whether a mouse or duck, Ingrid or greyhound, winged or pawed, Arielle blessed many with food, shelter and love.

Her “Mary Roses Farm” in Salisbury with her husband of 55 years, surrounded by her domestic animals and much wildlife, gave her great joy for years.

For the past few weeks now, the tulips she planted in her front garden by the roadside reflects her attention to detail and her desire to share her love for natural beauty.

Arielle is deeply missed by her husband, son, children (dogs and cats), friends and family.