Natalie Ann Morrison Freeman, 88, known as Nancy, died on the morning of April 15 at the LincolnHealth Miles Campus in Damariscotta.

She was born on June 18, 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of George L. Morrison and Natalie Hansen Morrison. She grew up in Merion, Pennsylvania, studied piano from an early age, and attended Shipley School.

She went to Sarah Lawrence College to study music until 1946, when she married George E. (Ned) Freeman. They went on to have three children, living in New Jersey and then Pennsylvania. Nancy later attended Moore College of Art in Philadelphia and then taught art at several Bucks County schools.

In 1982, Nancy moved to Damariscotta, where she had spent many summers in the past 40 years. She acquired the Round Top dairy farm from the Freeman family, and founded the Round Top Center for the Arts. Nancy donated the farm to the art center, and with her companion Edmund Darrows, created facilities for concerts, studio art classes and gallery shows in the various farm buildings.

She developed a program supporting both the visual and the performing arts and voluntarily served as Artistic Director for the life of the program. The farm is now maintained by the Damariscotta River Association as their headquarters, and continues to serve the community with its open space, gallery, and places to perform music.

A notable artist in her own right, Nancy created paintings, drawings, and needlepoint tapestries in her own studio. She studied printmaking in the Round Top print studio. She conducted a popular art history class at Round Top with projection slides from her collection. She supported local artists and collected their works. In 2013, her own work was exhibited at the Round Top Farmhouse to honor her and her extraordinary contribution to the arts in Maine.

Nancy is survived by her devoted husband, C. William Burlin; and by her children, Gail F. Burke, Guru Sangat Singh Khalsa, George M. Freeman, and their spouses; as well as eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Nancy’s life is planned for this summer, with a date to be announced. The family wishes to express their great gratitude to the caring staff members at Mid Coast Hospital, Miles Memorial Hospital, Cove’s Edge Skilled Nursing, and the Personal Care Management staff.

Her family requests that any gifts made in Nancy’s memory go to Lincoln County Healthcare, c/o Development Office, 35 Miles Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543; Mid Coast Hospital, P.O. Box 279, Brunswick, ME 04011; the Damariscotta River Association, 110 Belvedere Road, Damariscotta, ME 04543; or the Colby College Museum of Art, 5600 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543. Condolences and messages for the family may be expressed by visiting: www.stronghancock.com.