Beverly Kennedy Murray

A U.S. Navy spouse for over 25 years, she worked as an Executive Secretary for senior military officers, a Cornell University Dean, and several Vice Presidents at First Insurance Company of Hawaii, until her retirement in 1991.

She is survived by husband Dr. William Murray, Professor Emeritus, Chaminade University of Honolulu; daughter Pamela; son James and daughter-in-law Nancy; 3 grandchildren, Sharlene Dockrey-Din and her husband Tony Din, Michael and Ryan Murray; and 2 great-grandchildren, Maria Nihoa and Arika Din.

Visitation: 9:30 am, Friday, January 13, 2012 at Borthwick Mortuary. Services: 10:15 am. Committal Services: 11:00 am, at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Aloha attire.

Donations in Bev's honor may be made to the Alzheimer's Association [www.alz.org].

Arrangements under the direction of Borthwick Mortuary, Honolulu, HI.

Beverly Kennedy Murray

July 12, 1927 – January 2, 2012

Beverly Kennedy Murray, or “Bev,” as she preferred to be called, was born on July 12, 1927 in Syracuse, NY. She was 84 years old when she passed away on January 2, 2012. She was the only child of Clovis and Marion Kennedy, but grew up in a neighborhood full of kids. She and her future husband, Bill, had known each other ever since they were young. Theirs truly was a “childhood sweethearts” story. They were going steady when they were 14, got married when they were 19, and celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on April 26, 2011.

Bev had two children, Pam and Jim; four grandchildren, Michael and Sharlene Dockrey, and Michael and Ryan Murray; and two great- grandchildren, Maria Nihoa and Arika Din. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She especially enjoyed Christmas time, and spent countless hours decorating her home, expertly wrapping gifts and meticulously placing them around the tree.

Bill realized that he’d found the right woman when Bev agreed to write excuses for him when he used to cut school, which apparently was quite often. With her beautiful penmanship, it was easy to see how his teachers would think that his mother had actually written the note.

Bev was always very independent and never met a challenge she couldn’t handle. Bill often said that the secret to their successful marriage was something that he learned early on: “Eyes and ears open, mouth shut.”

Except for a few years when her children were young, she enjoyed working most of her life, and had a very successful career as an Executive Secretary. One of her unique skills was taking dictation and writing in shorthand. She did it so well that she even wrote her grocery lists in shorthand. That was great for her, but nobody else could go shopping for her because you couldn’t read what she’d written!

Bev was a military wife for over 25 years, and she got real good at packing up her house and family and moving to a new duty station. During Bill’s U.S. Navy career, they had 8 major moves. It was during a tour of duty in Lisbon, Portugal that they went to Germany and adopted their daughter, Pam, in 1954. Their next assignment was in Buffalo, NY where their son, Jim, was born in 1955. Bill’s final duty station was in Hawaii, where he retired from the Navy, having served 27 years. Bev and Bill both loved Hawaii, and have lived there for over 44 years.

Through Bev’s encouragement and assistance, Bill, who left high school before his senior year to join the Navy during WW II, completed his high school GED and college, and went on to earn advanced degrees. As she often remarked, “Bill quit high school to join the Navy, and has been going to school ever since.” Bev was totally supportive of Bill’s academic pursuits, and he enthusiastically credits her for much of his success. Bev’s philosophy of hard work and the pursuit of excellence were passed on to her children.

Bev and Bill always enjoyed traveling, and after she retired, they were able to spend time each year visiting family and friends, and exploring new places. When her son’s family moved to Colorado Springs, they decided that was the perfect “base of operation” for their mainland vacations. They spent several months in Colorado each year, enjoying their grandchildren. But Hawaii was always home, and when the weather started to turn cold, they would return to “paradise.”

Bev was a private person who usually kept her emotions to herself; but she was always there for her family and friends. There was never any doubt that she loved all of them, was extremely proud of her kids and grandkids, and would do anything for them.

Bill affectionately called her “My Tough Irish Broad,” and that was definitely true during her successful battle with colon cancer and later during her struggle with Alzheimer’s. Throughout it all, she kept a positive attitude and smiled easily. Thanks the outstanding efforts of Bill and her daughter, Pam, Bev was able to live at home and enjoyed the best quality of life possible.

You could tell by the way she looked at Bill that she really loved him. Right up to the end they were always holding hands, when they’d watch TV and even in bed before they went to sleep.

Bev passed away peacefully, at home. Many of her family and friends gathered to celebrate her life. Bev was laid to rest at the beautiful Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, in Kaneohe, Hawaii. She is at peace, near the final resting place of her parents, and her grandson, Michael.

Bev is survived by her husband of 64 years, Bill; her daughter Pam; her son Jim and his wife Nancy; her granddaughter Sharlene and her husband Tony; her grandsons Michael and Ryan Murray, and her great-granddaughters Maria Nihoa and Arika Din.

Bev enjoyed a very full and rich life, with lots of friends and family who loved her. We can only hope that as we grow old, we handle life’s challenges as well as Bev did, with grace and a smile.