Mrs Murdoch, who ran Louise the Florist in Scarborough for 44 years, was a prominent member of the business community.

During that time she rose through the ranks of florists to manage the British team in Interflora's prestigious annual world cup competition, in Germany, Ireland, Canada, the USA and Australia. She was interviewed on TV in Britain, the USA and Canada.

Elizabeth Latham was born into a farming family in Driffeld in 1922. During the last two years of the Second World War she was a nurse in the Red Cross, serving in India and other places.

She trained at the Constance Spry School of Floristry in London and in 1946 became manager of Louise the Florist, named after the business founder's original manager, in St Nicholas Street.

At about the same time she met Donald Murdoch at a dance at the former Olympia dance-hall on the seafront. They married in Driffield in 1950.

Apart from a brief period in partnership with Olivia Brewis, she built up the business singlehandedly, while her husband worked for GCHQ on Irton Moor and abroad, in Turkey and Malta.

In 1973 Mrs Murdoch moved the business into bigger premises previously occupied by Fenwick's baby shop and now occupied by Café Jardin, in Huntriss Row.

Mr Murdoch took early retirement from the civil service in 1982 and joined the business, allowing his wife time to indulge her passion for travel.

She went pony trekking in the Himalayas, observed wildlife on African game reserves and orang utans in Borneo, and visited the frozen tundra in Alaska.

In the early 80s, at about the time Huntriss Row was pedestrianised, Mrs Murdoch transferred the business again, to a shop on the corner of Huntriss Row, where it still is.

She sold the business to her old friend and shop manager Sue Corrigan in 1990.

Mrs Murdoch was principal of the North Riding School of Floristry and president of Scar- borough Floral Decoration Club and Scarborough Sorop- timists.

Mr and Mrs Murdoch had two sons, both born on November 23 – Jonathan in 1954 and Christopher in 1959.

Chris and his wife Carol, who live in London, provided two granddaughters – Ella in 2001 and Lucy in 2005. But the Murdochs' happiness was shortlived as Jonathan, a leading academic figure, was diagnosed with leukaemia and died at Christmas 2005.

Mrs Murdoch, who had a heart condition, died suddenly at her Ganton home last Thursday.

Her funeral will be at St Nicholas' Church in Ganton tomorrow at noon.

She leaves her husband Donald, sister Ann Latham, son Chris, daughters-in-law Carol and Mara, and granddaughters Ella and Lucy.

If you have any memories of Mrs Murdoch or Louise the Florist, send an email to letters@scarboroughevening news.co.uk