Katherine Murray

1945 - 2022

Katherine Ann (Paton) Murray



Katherine Ann (Paton) Murray Katherine Ann Murray of Corrales, New Mexico passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Wednesday, August 10th, 2022.

Kathi was born in Albuquerque on June 6, 1945, to Orville and Kathryn (Rupert) Paton. Kathi graduated from Highland High School in 1963. In 1966, she met the love of her life, Tracy Wilson Murray and married him on November 25th, 1966.

Tracy's career took them to Atlanta, GA; Montclair, NJ; Fayetteville, AR; Geneva, Switzerland; Washington, DC and Toulouse, France. During their 56 years of marriage, in all their travels, and throughout many great adventures, Kathi was a loving wife, devoted mother, and a great friend. Kathi and Tracy raised their two children with love and the belief that they could become anything they wanted to be. Then, Kathi went on to do just that.

While in Fayetteville, Kathi attended the University of Arkansas, earning her bachelor's degree and then a master's degree in Physical Anthropology. A move to Washington, DC, provided Kathi with an opportunity to work at the Smithsonian Institution's Department of Anthropology. Reveling in the study of skeletal material, she published her first scholarly article in 1991. Upon returning to Fayetteville, she joined the University of Arkansas Anthropology Department and often worked on cases investigating skeletal remains when the department was contracted by the Arkansas State Medical Examiner's Office.

When Tracy retired, he told Kathi that she had followed him throughout his career and asked her where she wanted to go next. Her reply was "home" and they moved back to Albuquerque. They made their home in Corrales and loved becoming a part of that community.

Kathi also had a very creative side and experimented with different ways of expressing this until she found fiber arts. She enjoyed doing cross stitch, embroidery, and appliqué but her favorite pastime was quilting. Over the years, she created many beautiful pieces as art, donations to charities and gifts for family members. She joined the Thimbleweeds Quilters Guild and became involved in quilt shows and State Fair displays; sometimes entering a quilt of her own and earning a ribbon or two.

Kathi is survived by her daughter, Lisa (Murray) Lester and son-in-law, Kent Lester, their son, Scott Murray; grandchildren, Alec, and Lila Murray; and son-in-law, Joe Stead. She is also survived by her many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly; Tammy and Patrick Lane, Michael and Carrie Prothero, Steven and Eryn Prothero, and Kim and Sparky Kernodle were frequent visitors and very beloved. Kathi was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three siblings, and the mother of her grandchildren, Laurie Murray.

A private burial was held at Sunset Memorial Park and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Thimbleweed Quilters Guild or any charity of your choice.

Thimbleweed Quilters â€" contact Barbara Striegel at (505) 867-2138. Please visit our online guestbook for Katherine at

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