Barbara Murray

Barbara Alice (Johnson) Murray, 85, of Mitchell, South Dakota and Tucson, Arizona, passed away peacefully at home in Winter Springs, Florida on February 23, 2025.

Barbara was born on August 22, 1939 to Alice (Nieveen) and Harold J. Johnson in Mitchell. While growing up with her older brother Fred, Barbara loved to play piano, ride horses and golf, both in Mitchell and at the family's cabin in the beautiful Black Hills. Her most important and impactful passion truly was spending time with other people. A self-described people person, whether you were a longtime friend or new acquaintance, she loved talking with and learning more about you. Her grandfather founded Johnson's Furniture in Mitchell in 1922. Her father continued the business and opened a second location in Tucson, where Barbara attended Tucson High School seasonally. She graduated from Mitchell High School in 1957.

Barbara's love of the southwest drew her to attend Scripps College in Claremont, California, where she studied International Relations and graduated in 1961, and then onto the University of Arizona earning her masters in Spanish. At Scripps, she met the love of her life Alan Murray. They wed in Tucson in 1963 and moved to Pasadena, California where she began her love of teaching. Barbara loved adventures. At 19, she drove across the country and at 20 travelled to Rome and enjoyed many Olympic events.

In 1965 Barbara and Alan moved to her hometown of Mitchell where they raised Alicia and Jack. Barbara taught Western Civilization at Dakota Wesleyan University and later Spanish at Mitchell High School. She and Alan took over Johnson's Furniture in Mitchell. She continued to play the piano as an accompanist to the church children's choir and performed dueling piano concerts. Barbara and Alan shared their love of golf with Alicia and Jack and the family enjoyed many summers and a few frigid winter ski trips at the Black Hills cabin. Summers could also find the family surrounded by friends camping at "The Island" on the Missouri River.

Barbara and Alan closed Johnson's Furniture in 1995, moved to Tucson and became realtors. Working with Long Realty, they built a business that grew into true friendships with clients. They reconnected with many college and high school friends with whom they enjoyed exploring the West and Mexico. After Alan's death in 2004, Barbara continued real estate with Jack. She thoroughly enjoyed the Tucson Scripps Alumnae Book Club and Tucson Symphony. An avid sports fan, she loved her season tickets with Jack for University of Arizona basketball and football games. Bear Down!

In 2022, she moved to Winter Springs, Florida to be near Alicia and family. Over the years she loved her role as Grandma to Brooke and Lauren, with annual Christmas cookie traditions and giving the girls an early appreciation of mountain life while exploring the creeks and hillsides in the Black Hills.

Barbara's college senior yearbook quote was applicable her whole life:

"I count myself in nothing else so happy

As in a soul remembering my good friends"

-- Shakespeare

Barbara is survived by her children Alicia (Rob) Beers and Jack Murray (Rebecca Hendrix) and her granddaughters Brooke and Lauren Beers.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Alan and her brother Fred.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the Harold & Alice Johnson and Alan & Barbara Murray Endowed Scholarship in Music at Dakota Wesleyan University. Gifts can be mailed to Dakota Wesleyan University 1200 W. University Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301 or donated online at https://give.dwu.edu/.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday March 13 at 4:00 PM in the Historic Sanctuary at First Methodist Church of Oviedo, 263 King Street, Oviedo, Florida.

A later celebration in Tucson will be scheduled.