Doreen June (Wilcox) Murray

Doreen June Wilcox Murray passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2019. She lived life to the fullest with her family and many friends. We are comforted knowing that Doreen & Dale are together again.

She was born August 23, 1927 to Carl & Ruth Wilcox in Tacoma. Even though Doreen grew up as an only child, she surrounded herself with many friends that would become lifetime buddies.

Doreen attended Stadium High School and then Whitman College in Walla Walla, where she pledged Delta Gamma Sorority. This organization adopted the phrase “Do Good” and those words held true to Doreen throughout her life.  After she returned to Tacoma, she and Dale reacquainted and celebrated 70 years of anniversaries. Doreen was a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church, where they were married and made church a priority with their family. After moving to Fox Island Doreen & Dale attended Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor.

From our Mother we learned the art of entertaining, making manners a priority and also inheriting her strength. These are qualities that we Murray Children hold strong to this day.

Everyone that was a part of Doreen’s life knew how much she loved to gather her friends. Parties galore were hosted from Hood Canal to Fox Island. Dale was always barbequing Salmon and Mom making her yummy Macaroni & Crab Salad.

Gig Harbor Golf Course was a large part of Mom’s life. She enjoyed the Tuesday 18 Holer Group, arranging the Lady’s events and volunteering every summer for the Junior Golf Program. Throughout her life she was a regular in many Bridge Clubs that she participated in well into her 80’s.

 As a young couple, Dad taught Mom to water ski & snow ski. Not always loving it, Mom was a trooper and knew it was quality family time. In Doreen’s younger years she devoted quite a bit of her time volunteering through the Junior League Organization, delivering meals to the construction crews at Pt. Defiance Park, raising money through her efforts with Festival of Trees for Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, screening grade school children’s eyes and through her church she helped host and welcome a Vietnamese Family to the North End of Tacoma.

Mom & Dad loved traveling to Arizona, Palm Desert & Hawaii. Those vacations were full of friends and great times. The “Party” always followed them. They especially enjoyed their time spent at the annual Jazz Festivals in Sun Valley and on the Oregon Coast, always tapping their toes along the way.

Doreen balanced her life enrolling in an accounting class and then working in a medical office and later for Dale’s Dental Practice.

Doreen is survived by her 4 children; Kay (Gerry), Joan (Michael), Martha (Steve), Jack (Cindy) and grandchildren Molly, Kelly (Abdul), Thaddeus, Conor and great granddaughter Amya.

The family held a private burial service honoring her life.  A Celebration of Life will be held on what would have been Doreen’s 92nd Birthday, Friday, August 23, 2019 at Anthony’s Restaurant in Gig Harbor from 12pm – 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Doreen’s name to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital at www.marybridge.org/about/giving/. 

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