ANSON — The unexpected death of longtime Anson Town Administrator Tammy Murray on Thursday has left a major void in the community, those who worked with her said.

Longtime Anson town administrator Tammy Murray, shown Dec. 8, 2017, died unexpectedly Thursday. Over the last decade Murray’s jobs for the town included administrative assistant, town clerk, treasurer and recreation director, among others. Morning Sentinel file photo

“She was the best, the absolute best,” said Arnold Luce, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. “She did more for this town than anybody could.”

Murray wore many hats for the town in the last decade, including administrative assistant, town clerk, treasurer and recreation director, among others.

“She did everything,” Luce said in an interview Monday at his North Anson meat processing business. “She knew everything. She put her heart into it, literally.”

Murray had a medical emergency Thursday afternoon while at the town office and was taken to a hospital by ambulance, Selectman Jim Smith said.

Murray had recently turned 55, said Kim Moody, another town office employee, who was meeting with Smith Monday morning.

“It was all very quick,” Smith said. “There’s really not a lot to say … She was in good health, as far as we knew. Just out of the blue.”

Town officials contacted this week could not remember exactly when Murray was hired by the town, but they said it was about eight to 10 years ago.

Tim Curtis, who was town manager in Madison from 2015 to 2023, said Murray worked previously for the town of Madison as tax collector and took the Anson job shortly after he began in 2015. But he still maintained a relationship with her after she moved to the new position across the Kennebec River.

“I always enjoyed working with Tammy,” Curtis said during a phone call Tuesday. “She took her job so seriously and worked (hard) — whether it was writing grants, whether it was doing carnivals or events at the town office, whether it was doing Christmas stuff. I mean, Tammy was always doing something for her town over there in Anson. It’s a big loss for the town.”

Those who worked with Murray in Anson shared similar memories of a woman dedicated to serving the town.

“She was wonderful,” Moody said. “She’s going to be very hard to replace.”

Luce, who has been a selectman for three decades, called Murray the “heart and soul” of the town. Smith said Murray had a “heart of gold.”

“And she did way beyond what she was supposed to do,” Smith said.

Murray lived in Anson with her family and had two sons. Efforts to contact the family were unsuccessful Tuesday. Those who were willing to speak about Murray said they wanted to respect the family’s privacy.

Curtis, who is now the Somerset County Administrator, recalled that Murray was a proud mother.

“I just remember when I worked with her years ago, they were both in high school, and everything was about those boys,” Curtis said. “It’s a sad day for the family, and I wish them the best.”

Luce said the Board of Selectmen met on Friday to temporarily assign some of Murray’s many responsibilities. Town officials have no plans yet for how to proceed with hiring someone new for the top job at the town office.

“It’s tough,” Luce said.