Beatrice Murray

WILKES-BARRE — Beatrice Mary Sones Murray, 90, of Wilkes-Barre and Hanover Township, passed away Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, at River View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Wilkes-Barre with her family by her side.

Beatrice was born in Hanover Township on Oct. 12, 1932. She was the daughter of the late William and Elizabeth Sones.

Beatrice was a graduate of Hanover High School, class of 1950. She married her high school sweetheart, Thomas J. Murray Jr., and together they shared 67 years of happiness until his passing in 2018. Beatrice lived her entire life in Hanover Township and was involved in the community, mainly with the Lee Park PTA and Wyoming Seminary Day School Parents Association. She was a faithful member of the Baptist Tabernacle Church and was involved on many church boards, fundraisers, and committees throughout her lifetime.

Together with her husband Tom, they started and ran Thomas J. Murray Jr. General Contractors for 30 years, founded Murray Realty & Rentals and became the proprietors of the Murray's Inn and Complex in Wilkes-Barre. Beatrice retired in 2008.

She was a friend to all and a mentor to many, who always offered a helping hand to those in need. Beatrice had the most welcoming smile and made those in her presence feel at ease.

Of utmost importance, Beatrice's family was her pride and joy and she relished in their accomplishments and the memories that she made with them. Beatrice was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and will be sadly missed by her family and friends. In addition to her parents, Beatrice was preceded in death by her husband Thomas, brothers Walter and William Sones, sister Dorothy Smith, and an infant granddaughter Jennifer Murray. Surviving are daughters; Carol Cavanaugh and her husband, Joseph, Mountain Top, Deborah Bokelman and her husband, David, Villa Hills, KY, and Janet Murray, Dallas, sons; Donald Murray and his wife, Kathy, Dallas, and Thomas J. Murray, Ill and his wife, Tracey, Forty Fort; 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the staff at River View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their loving and compassionate care given to Beatrice during her stay.

Family and friends may call on Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at Kniffen O'Malley Leffler Funeral and Cremation Services Inc., 465 South Main St., Wilkes-Barre.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. in the Baptist Tabernacle, 63 Division St., corner of Regent Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. with Pastor Valerie Black officiating. Friends are asked to go directly to the church on the day of the funeral.

Interment will be held in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Hanover Township.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Baptist Tabernacle Church, 63 Division St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18706.

Condolences can be made at http://www.kniffenfuneralhome.com/