Elizabeth May Bautista

Elizabeth May Bautista, was born to Candida Reyes Murdoch and Robert Murdoch, on April 22, 1941 in Pasig City, Manila, Philippines. Her parents met during World War II when US Army Sergeant First Class Robert Murdoch was assigned to the 60th Coast Artillery, Republic of the Philippines, where he served continuously in Bataan until Imperial Japanese forces captured Bataan.

Candida and Robert Murdoch were married on December 11, 1939. Shortly after Elizabeth was born, Sgt. Murdoch was taken prisoner at Corregidor. He was sent to a prison camp at Babanatuan in Luzon where he was held from 1942 to July 1944. He was then transported to the island of Honshu, Japan where he worked in the coal mines under forced labor and malnutrition. His total time of captivity of Japanese Imperial Forces was 3 years, 4 months and 7 days. Because his physical condition was very grave and serious when he was released to American forces at Nagasaki, Japan, Sgt. Murdoch was transferred back to the United States.

Elizabeth grew up in the province of Calumpit, Bulacan and was raised by her mother, Candida Reyes Murdoch. She married Francisco Bautista on October 22, 1957. They had four children, Leonilo, Geraldina, Margarita Mae, and Josie Guia.

In 1977, Elizabeth immigrated to the United States, leaving her four children and husband in the Philippines. She was welcomed to the US with loving arms from her stepmother, Elsie Murdoch. While she never met her father, she was always grateful to her stepmother for the love and support she received from her while she worked to petition her family to the US. From 1977 to 1979, Elizabeth worked 3 jobs in order to be reunited with her family. She worked in sales at the National Uniform Store in Washington DC from 9am -5pm, as a waitress at Steak-In-A-Sack in Marlow Heights, MD until 11 pm, and then washed laundry at PG Motel after leaving her second job. Her resilience, tenacity, and tireless efforts showed the strength of her character which ultimately led to success. She was reunited with her family on February 5, 1979.

Although her pride and joy are her grandchildren, Elizabeth loved to sew, fish, garden, travel, and shop. She was a great cook and an awesome seamstress, often making clothes for her children and grandchildren. She loved to feed people and loved family get togethers. One of her favorite activities was to go fishing with her grandsons, Frankie and Malik. The decision she made with her husband to immigrate to the US and the opportunities that resulted from that significant decision are the legacies she left to her loving family. Her children will forever be grateful to their parents and they will never forget the sacrifices they made to ensure that they were able to experience amazing opportunities that would otherwise not be available to them.

On April 6, 2001, Elizabeth suffered a brain aneurysm and became completely disabled. Her wonderful daughters took care of her for a period of time until she needed 24 hour care. The wonderful staff at Cherry Lane Nursing Center took over her care and took great care of her for 19 years, culminating in her death on April 19, 2022.

Elizabeth is survived by her step-sister Marilyn Briggs; son Leonilo Bautista (Tracy Bautista); daughters Geraldina Davis (Carl Davis; Amber Owens-Taequan /Zakiya Davis-Xion /Akilah Davis /Nailah Davis-Dion), Margarita Mae Bautista, and Josie Guia Bautista; Grandchildren Carl Francis Davis, April Clair Bautista, Angelina Elaine Bautista, and Christopher Malik Davis; Great grandchild Hayden Jaye Davis; Nieces Carolina De Leon, Aminah Paige (Kenneth Paige) Margie Bautista Natividad; Nephews Rameses Bautista (Clarissa Bautista), Ireneo Bautista (Rebecca Bautista); Great nephews and nieces Maria Johnson (Juan Johnson Sr.), Juan Johnson Jr., Maricel Joy Delgado (Dexter Delgado) Christopher Stokely, Dylan Muffley, Maya Johnson, Justin Paige, Madison Paige, Isaiah Miguel Delgado, Isis Delgado, Adanikka Bautista, Danella Natividad, Nathan Natividad, Adana Joves (Gabriel Joves), Ivan Bautista, Adiagne Dionisio and a host of extended family and devoted friends. Elizabeth was predeceased by her parents, Candida Reyes Murdoch, Robert Murdoch, and step-mother Elsie Murdoch; Ex-husband, Francisco Bautista; Sisters-in-Law Margarita Bautista; Saturnina Bautista, Bernarda Bautista; Brother-in-Law Adan Bautista; Nieces Lorna Carter, Michaela Delgado and Nephew Noel Buan (Evelyn Buan).