Wanda McEwen Murray, age 94, of Butler, Tenn., went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 5, 2012, in Lexington, Ky. She was a native of Johnson County (Doeville), Tenn., and was the daughter of the late Joseph Wade McEwen and Ida Lowe McEwen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Riley Murray; two brothers, Bert and Kent McEwen and one sister, Janis McEwen Stout. She is survived by one sister, Kate Arrants and one brother Ralph McEwen and his wife June, of Buter. She is also survived by her children, Rachel Murray Jones, Lexington, Ky.; Frank Murray and his wife Becky, Elizabethton; Tom Murray and his wife Connie, Berea, Ky.; grandchildren, MSgt. Alex Murray (USAF) and his wife Beth, Crestview, Fla., Jessica Murray Arnold, Elizabethton, and Marsha Minix, Lexington, Ky.; five great-grandchildren, K.J. Arnold, Beau Davis, Mason Davis and Madison Davis, all of Elizabethton, and Olivia Murray, Crestview, Fla. Several nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews also survive.
Mrs. Murray was a member of Little Doe Baptist Church in Butler. She was a homemaker and an avid quilt maker whose creations were prized by family and friends. She enjoyed cooking and vegetable gardening. She was a descendant of the early pioneer families of East Tennessee and was very proud of her mountain heritage. She took special pride in the fact that all of her children were college graduates.
Funeral service for Wanda McEwen Murray will be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 8, 2012, in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home with Rev. Kreg Smith of Little Doe Baptist Church officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday prior to the funeral service. Graveside service and interment will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2012 in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Everyone will meet at the cemetery at 1:20 p.m. on Monday for the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made in Mrs. Murray’s name to the Little Doe Baptist Church, 325 Doe Creek Road, Butler, TN 37640 (423-768-2369). Donations may also be made to the McEwen Family Cemetery Maintenance Fund in care of her son, Frank Murray, 205 Ron Royce Drive, Elizabethton, TN 37643.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book or by fax to (423) 542-9499. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton is serving the Murray family. Office: (423) 542-2232 Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.
