Loren Raymond Murray

Loren is survived by his wife, Daphne, of 51 years, his sons Ron Graves of McArthur, Steve Graves of Keaau, Hawaii, Dale Graves of Burney, CA and Loren Murray of Granite Bay, CA, his daughter-in-laws Wanda, Isy, Claudia and Judy, and his sister Twyla Stroup of Big Spring, Texas.

Loren was born in Glenwood, Washington in 1933. Growing up on the Murray family homestead, the family later moved to Grants Pass, Oregon, where Loren and Twyla continued to work on the family dairy farm. At 16, he left home to take a job at a lumber mill in Gold Beach, Oregon where he worked until joining the Army in 1953. After two years in the service in a heavy artillery battalion during the Korean War, Loren landed a job at Redding Steel in Redding, CA where he met his future wife, Daphne. The Murray family moved to Little Valley, CA, for several years until settling in McArthur in 1965, where he and Daphne raised the boys. Loren continued working locally as a heavy equipment operator for the Sanford Cinder Company, the Arcada Redwood Construction company, and other seasonal jobs including plowing snow for Caltrans in eastern Shasta County where he was hired on permanently until his retirement in 1997.

Although Loren worked very hard six days a week, he always made time to enjoy the outdoors with Daphne and the boys. He loved to fish and hunt, and take family excursions. Regardless of how exhausted he was from his job, the rattling of a fishing rod or racking of a rifle or shotgun brought a smile to his face and joy to his heart. Although his wife Daphne grew up a "big city" girl (originally from London, England), she could always be found outdoors, crunching frosty twigs and leaves underneath her feet while deer hunting with Loren and the boys.

Loren leaves behind a large family that included many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren who were blessed by having been part of his life.

Graveside services will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery on Tuesday October 5, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Pastor Pete Lorenzen will officiate the service, arrangements by McDonalds Chapel. A potluck gathering is scheduled immediately after the service at the Veterans Hall in Fall River Mills.

Arrangements under the direction of McDonald's Chapel, Burney, CA.