Alexander Murray

Alexander "Alex" Murray died as he lived, with courage, dignity and resolve. On February 17, 2010, he was joyfully reunited in eternity with his beloved wife, June, and his favorite horse, Patchy. Alex was born in Helena, Montana, on September 26, 1917, youngest child of James and Theresa (Elsner) Murray. Growing up on 16 Mile Homestead, Alex was a true Montana cowboy who quickly learned how to ride, trap, fish and hunt. He worked in the Butte Copper Mines and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps to build bridges, carve trails and fight forest fires. Enlisting in the US Navy on Pearl Harbor Day, Alex served on a submarine tender in the South Pacific. After WWII, he settled in Vancouver, WA and was a plumber for the Portland School District until he retired. His storytelling was renowned and tales of early Butte days as well as hunting and fishing adventures enthralled his family and friends. Alex skillfully hand-tooled beautiful leather wallets, belts, purses, checkbook covers, and key cases which are treasured by the lucky recipients. His extravagant garden yielded a bounty of flowers, fruits and vegetables harvested, preserved and freely shared with all. His strawberry jam was a consistent blue ribbon winner at the Clark County Fair and his sourdough applesauce cake judged "the best". Flipping his famous sourdough pancakes gave him great joy and samples were eagerly awaited by his grandchildren. Alex loved the outdoors especially trail riding, camping, fishing and hunting. Elk Camp in the Blue Mountains was an annual destination which provided meat for the family table and an abundance of new stories each fall. He taught Hunter's Safety Courses so new hunters could learn to hunt safely and responsibly. For years, Alex volunteered as a Fire Fighter with Vancouver Fire District 6. He and June loved square dancing, playing cribbage, entertaining friends, trail riding and camping. They described their 37 years of marriage as "the best years of their lives". Alex was a loyal Seattle Mariners fan and a devoted sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the NRA and a lifetime member of the Washington State Grange. In 2003, he joined the Bellingham Central Lions Club and was awarded the President's Appreciation Award for his dedicated service. A member of First Congregational Church of Bellingham, UCC, Alex sat right behind the pastors every Sunday in what he called "Sinners Row". A generous friend, always ready to help, always enlivening any gathering with his stories and songs, Alex will be missed by his many friends at church, at the Lions Club, at the Parkway Chateau and at the Whatcom Creek fishing hole. We, his family, carry his amazing legacy with us each day. Children are Doug Fagerness, Cheryll Blair(David), Janet Storey(Morgan Little Tree), Marla Kay Morrow(Steve), Joan Murray, Jayne Hildebrand(Rick), Jeff Murray. Grandchildren are Jes Fagerness, Ellen Blair, John Blair, Kathryn Blair, Jay Blair, JoAnna Hensley(Dean), Crystal Plummer, Shelby Plummer, Joe Plummer, Paul Hildebrand, Danielle Hildebrand, Skyler Murray and Great Grandchildren, Stryker Plummer, Deanna Hensley. A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Alex Murray will be held Friday, March 19, at 2:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Bellingham, UCC, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA. Memorial donations may be made to: The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 5705 Grant Creek, Missoula, MT 59808, Bellingham Central Lions Club, P.O. Box 602, Bellingham, WA 98227, Whatcom Hospice, 800 E. Chestnut, Bellingham, WA 98225 or First Congregational Church of Bellingham, UCC. Moles Family Funeral Homes, Bayview Chapel. Bellingham