Jane Murray

Jane (McConnell) Murray, age 74, of Ames, Iowa, died Sunday, August 11, 2024, due to complications of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa.
Public viewing will be at 10:00 followed by Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024. This will take place at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and Student Center, 2210 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA with Father Kyle Digmann presiding. The inurnment prayer service will immediately follow mass in the STA prayer garden. A funeral dinner will be provided following the inurnment prayer service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to the Harmony Clothing Closet or the Nevada Public Library, both institutions of Nevada, IA.
Jane Ellen McConnell was born April 28, 1950, in Decorah, Iowa, to Patrick Melvin McConnell and Irene Kathern (Snitker) McConnell as the third child of six children. She graduated from Decorah High School in 1968 and then attended the University of Northern Iowa where she would meet her future husband, Raphael (Ray) Murray and receive her degree in Family and Consumer Science in 1972. She was united in marriage to Ray two days before Christmas on December 23, 1972, at St. Bridget's Church in Bluffton, Iowa. Starting out in her career, Jane taught Family and Consumers Science at Dubuque Senior High School in Dubuque, Iowa, and then went on to teach at the Alternative High School in Webster City, Iowa. However, her true career began when she joined the Nevada Public Library in Nevada, Iowa in 1988. What Jane loved most was to read and discuss books. In retirement she worked part-time for Iowa State University as a family data researcher, but she kept up with many hobbies, including numerous book clubs and quilting classes. Jane was an avid quilter and many of her family and friends have been gifted with her one-of-a-kind quilts over the years.
Jane and Ray had three children, Erin, Shana, and Ryan who they loved unconditionally. Jane also became a surrogate mom to many of her children's friends. The house was always full of kids doing class projects, experimental baking, watching movies, or just hanging out because there was always something good to eat and Jane was a fun mom. She also took immense joy in spending time with her extended family, but especially spending time with her granddaughters, Haydyn, Avery, and Charlotte. Much like in those younger years with her kids, Jane took great joy in teaching the girls how to sew and bake and loved watching them excel at all of their interests, including gymnastics, soccer, plays, and horse riding.
Jane is survived by her husband Ray Murray, Ames, Iowa, three children, Erin (Steve) Seals, Des Moines, Iowa, Shana (Joel) Wiseman, Washington, D.C., and Ryan (Megan) Murray, Louisville, Colorado, and three granddaughters, Haydyn Seals, and Avery and Charlotte Murray; sisters Mary (Dennis) Cook, Kearney Missouri, and brother David (Brenda) McConnell, Decorah Iowa; brother-in-law Ervin Yahr, Decorah, Iowa; brothers-in-law Robert (Bev) Murray, Omaha, Nebraska, Daniel (Beth) Murray, Elkader, Iowa, Richard (Kathy) Murray, Decorah, Iowa, William Murray, Peosta, Iowa, and sisters-in-law Sister Corine Murray PBVM, Dubuque, Iowa, and Beth (Mark) (Murray) Cook, Aurora, Illinois, as well as many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces, and grand great-nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents Melvin and Irene, brother Thomas McConnell, sisters Kathleen (McConnell) Simon and Maureen (McConnell) Yahr, mother-in-law Dorothy Murray, father-in-law Vincent Murray, sisters-in-law Grace (Murray) Ruden and Joyce (Murray) Callahan, and brothers-in-law Robert Ruden and Michael Callahan.