Catherine Marshall Murray

Catherine Marshall MURRAY 1/15/1929 ~ 4/3/2011 Catherine Marshall Murray passed away April 3, 2011. She was born on January 15, 1929 in Rochester, NY at the Mayo Clinic where her father, Dr. James M. Marshall, served on staff. Her mother was Mary Elizabeth (Yancey) Marshall. She grew up in California and attended the Westridge School in Pasadena, Stephens College in Missouri and Pomona College in California from which she graduated in 1950. In the fall of 1950, she got her dream job as school teacher and hostess at Smoke Tree Ranch, a residential resort in Palm Springs, CA. That's where Cathy met L.T. (Tom) Murray Jr. on a blind date, which resulted in a proposal very shortly thereafter, and marriage on December 30, 1951. Cathy's first three years of married life were spent in Mineral, WA, where during the week Tom worked as a logger, and weekends in Tacoma. After the births of their three children, L.T. III (Toby), Elizabeth, and Jamie, the family moved permanently to Lakewood. Cathy and Tom spent many happy times with friends and family there, as well as at homes on Maui and in Palm Springs. Cathy deeply cherished the peacefulness of both ocean and desert. She was an avid member of the Tacoma Country & Golf Club, the Aloha Club and the Tacoma Junior League where in 1960 as the Daffodil Girl, she starred with many others in the 1960 Junior League Follies. Cathy was very active at Christ Episcopal Church, serving over the years on the Vestry, Altar Guild, and on Rector Search Committees, as well as the local branch of the American Cancer Society, and on the Board of Charles Wright Academy. Cathy was the ultimate hostess with her warmth, laughter, and unflappable good humor, and entertained family and friends constantly, regardless of location. She was a voracious reader of both poetry and prose, fiction and non-fiction, which, combined with her keen interest in others, made her a wonderful conversationalist! She was always number 1 on the preferred seatmate list at sit-down events. She is survived by her loving family, husband Tom Murray, son Toby and wife Laurie, daughter Elizabeth Mirante, son Jamie and wife Sandra, grandchildren L.T. IV and Kelsey Murray, Kate and Kyra Mirante, Bailey and Julia Murray, sister-in-law Anne Murray Barbey, brothers Mike [Patty] and Joe [Molly] Marshall, and sister Fonia [Dick] Humphries, and step-brother Jim Boyle, plus numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces of multiple generations. Cathy was sustained all her life by her love of God, family and friends. Her loss will be shared by everyone who knew her. Memorial services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 310 North K St, Tacoma, at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, with a reception to follow at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club in Lakewood. Memorials may be sent to Christ Episcopal Church.