Obituary: Murray, Robert Burnett
He was born to Harry and Margery Murray, in East Orange, New Jersey February 17, 1930.
Raised mostly in Williamsville, New York he met his lifelong love, Mary Ellen, in Richmond on Memorial Day 1954.
They celebrated 60 years together this September 17th.
He was a loving father to Stephen (‘56), Tina (‘65) and Bonnie (‘67).
He is survived by his wife and his children with their spouses, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
They moved many times in their married lives.
Starting on the East Coast in New York and living for over thirty years in California, they moved to Spokane in 1999 to be near their son after he left the Army to join a vascular surgical practice here.
After working for U.S. Plywood/Champion International for over 30 years, he then began a real estate career.
He was active in local politics, working hard to preserve the country he dearly loved.
These are the places he lived and the work for which he was paid, but he would tell you his life was better characterized by his self created epitaph: Born Lost, Born Again, Borne Eternally.
Coming to his new life in Christ in his 40’s, he grew steadily in greater trust in his Savior and was an encouragement to many in the churches he and Mary Ellen attended in Sacramento and later Spokane, finishing the race as a member of Christ the Redeemer.
The loss that his family and friends feel is to be weighed against the joy they know he is experiencing now.
In short: he was an extraordinary ordinary man and a rock for all that knew him.
“For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain..” Phil 1:21.
Donations in his memory can be made to Union Gospel Mission, Spokane.