Becky was born on April 26, 1938 in Poughkeepsie, New York to Joseph Kirk and Laura Jean Folsom. At age 14 Becky moved to Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts where she lived until her graduation from St. Ann High School in 1956.
Shortly after graduation, Becky joined the Navy as a WAVE. While riding the bus back to the Navy barracks, she met her future husband, Claude Earl Murray. They began their 65-year marriage on July 20, 1957 in Arlington, Virginia. The couple traveled extensively and moved often due to Claude’s Navy career. During one stay in San Diego, California, she worked as a secretary for San Diego County Engineers. In Bremerton, WA, Becky began her career as a homemaker, to which she devoted herself wholeheartedly. After Claude’s Navy retirement in 1973 the Murray family moved from Rhode Island to the Spokane area, finally settling down in Otis Orchards.
Becky was a devout Christian, well versed in the Bible, and very active in each church she attended. A founding member of Peace Lutheran Church in Otis Orchards, WA, Becky taught Sunday School and ran the nursery for many years. She was an avid reader, loved nature and gardening and was an accomplished birder. Throughout her children’s education, Becky was an active member of the PTA and assisted in vision screening throughout Spokane Valley. Caring, loving and charitable, Becky gave of herself to anyone in need, including strangers, and was even a long-term caregiver for several friends and neighbors.
Becky is survived by her husband, Claude, children Laura Carle (Coleman) of Aberdeen, Washington, Claude Stephen Murray (Maria) of Keller, Texas, and Susan Gillikan (Matthew) of Boise, Idaho, and her sister, Susan Folsom Stanhope (Donald) of Wakefield, Rhode Island. She is also survived by her grandson Claude Nicolas Murray, granddaughter Renee Lynn Latham and her step granddaughter Tici Lewellen (Dylan) and 3 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her half-sisters Patricia Horwitz and Anne Lippmann.
A celebration of life was held at Peace Lutheran Church on October 24, 2022. Memorials may be made to Peace Lutheran Church, PO Box 1058, Otis Orchards, WA 99027.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HazenJaegerValley.com for the Murray family.
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