Bertha E. (Williams) Strout, age 91, wife of the late Roland Strout, of Marblehead, died on Monday, September 2, 2013 in the Blueberry Hill Nursing Home, following a long illness.

Born in Salem the daughter of the late Charles and Georgie (Symonds) Williams, she attended Salem schools, graduating from Salem High School in the Class of 1941.

Her working career began at the A.C. Lawrence Leather Factory on the Salem - Peabody line. Following her marriage to Rolly, she became a stay at home Mom. She was meticulous with keeping her home, enjoyed cooking and caring for her husband and children. When her youngest progressed in school, she returned to the work force at the former Almy's Department Store, Hosiery Department, where she worked for 22 years until the store's closing. She then joined her daughter Pauline and son in law, Butch Morgan for several years where they were operating the Video Attraction store in Marblehead until they closed the store in 1998.

Mrs. Strout enjoyed playing Bingo on the North Shore and enjoyed any chance to go dancing at the Moose Lodge in Salem, with her husband Rolly. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Mrs. Strout is survived by three children; Chester A. Strout and his wife Carolyn Thomas of Marblehead, Pauline and her husband, retired Marblehead Firefighter, Charles "Butch" Morgan of Hanahan, SC and Catherine and her husband Wayne Coulombe of Strafford, NH; eight grandchildren, Pamela and her husband Steven Robinson, Cheryl and her husband James Russell, Jr., Melissa and Brian Strout, Amy Coulombe and her husband Richard Madden, John, Andrew and Michael Coulombe; six great grandchildren Kirstyn, Jordan, Whitney, Morgan, Courtney and Brooke, and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of Bob Williams of California, Ralph Williams of Texas and Lizzie Richardson of Salem. She was also the sister of the late Eleanor Couliard, Russell, Charles, George and Lillian Williams and Martha Richardson. Phyllis Rosetti and three infant siblings.

Mrs. Strout's Funeral Services will be held at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., (cor of North St.) Salem, on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held prior to the services from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or the Alzheimer's Association of Massachusetts/New Hampshire 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. For additional information or on line guest book please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.