Obituary: William C. "Bill" Murray, 79, died in Santa Ana, California, former resident The Dalles, Wasco Co., Oregon ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Earline Wasser April 2003 ********************************************************************************* The Dalles Chronicle March 13, 2003. Surnames: Murray, Coose, Mariani, Courtney William C. "Bill" Murray, 79, died in Santa Ana, California on March 8, 2003. He was born June 28, 1923, in The Dalles to Robert I. And Eva (Coose) Murray. He graduated from The Dalles High School in 1940 and had his college education at the University of Oregon interrupted by World Ward II. He joined the U.S. Navy, becoming a medic, and was eventually assigned to a U.S. Marine unit in the Pacific. He served until 1945 when he was able to return to his studies, graduating from the U of O in 1947 with a BS in political science with a special interest in history and French language studies. He went to work in government in Washington, D.C. and later returned to Oregon, working at the Multnomah County Welfare Department. Deciding social work was the field he wished to pursue, he entered the University of Washington where he obtained a master of social work degree. He then went to California and the Marin County Child Welfare Department, followed by a move to Sonoma County and a position at Los Auillecos School for Girls. He later organized a Family Services Agency for the county, and under his direction it opened full-time in 1969 and he remained executive director for the next 10 years. In 1980 he went to work for the California State Development Center, retiring in 1985. His many interests included genealogy, French language and culture and church activities. He was an avid researcher of family history, was active with the Sonoma County Alliance Francaise and was a long-time member of the Knox Presbyterian Church, serving twice as an elder. He enjoyed being with people and communicating with friends and relatives by phone, by letter or in person. He valued his childhood and experiences growing up in The Dalles and attended many of the annual Wasco County Pioneer Association meetings on his frequent return visits to The Dalles. Survivors include his wife, Frances; a daughter, Jennifer Mariani and a son, Robert Murray. He was preced in death by his brother, Edward C. Murray, and half sister, Mildred Courtney. Memorial services will be Sunday, March 16, at 3 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa. Memorials may be made to the Sonoma County Genealogical Society, the Knox Presbyterian Church or a charity of the donors choice.