Annie Kirk Murray
Annie Kirk Murray was born May 5, 1923, in Polk, North Carolina, to Gilbert Erskine & Annie Rowan Kidd, mom was raised in Lexington, Va., by her mother following the early death of her father, a Presbyterian minister.
Following graduation from Mary Washington College she met and married Jack Godfrey Murray who was attending Washington & Lee University following WWII service as a B-24 bombardier. Drafted again for the Korean conflict Jack decided to make the USAF a career and they traveled the world, serving time in Tripoli, California, Arkansas, Virginia, South Carolina, Pittsburgh and Germany and back to Virginia before finally retiring in Texas. Jack then entered the Episcopal Seminary and was rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Nacogdoches at the time of his death in 1982.
Koonah continued to live in Nacogdoches for years, becoming a member of the Nacogdoches Club, serving on the vestry at her church and enjoying time with her many friends in Nacogdoches, including The Ladies of The Evening, a supper club with a passion for seeking out fine dining in the local area, a quest that kept them busy. She was an avid bridge player and loved to volunteer.
As her health began to deteriorate she moved to Fort Worth to be closer to her grandchildren and spent her final months getting to know her first great granddaughter. She was a wonderful mother who will be missed by not only her family but also her many friends from East Texas. Her family wishes to express their thanks to the residents and staff at Town Village Ridgmar and Sterling House of Watauga for the care shown to mom, and a special thanks to Heart to Heart Hospice, especially Rylinda, Jeanette and Faye, for developing special bonds in an above and beyond manner the past 6 weeks. The journey would not have been complete without them.
Koonah is survived by her sons, Jeff Murray and wife Janie of Fort Worth, Kirk Murray and wife Debbie of Loveland, Ohio, and Bobby Murray and wife Theresa of Bastrop; and her daughter, Ellen and husband Dr. Kent Macaulay of Round Rock. In addition she is also survived by her granddaughters, Laura Murray and fiance’ Roger Koscielniak of Ennis, Jacqueline Murray and Elizabeth Murray of Fort Worth, and Amanda Hoffman and husband Matt Hoffman of Roanoke, VA, and grandson Bryan Murray and wife Jamie of West Chester, Ohio, and John and Patrick Richardson of Bastrop. Her great-granddaughter, Avery Rowan Koscielniak, was born in July and brought mom much joy as only a great-grandchild can.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at Christ Episcopal Church in Nacogdoches.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 502 E. Starr Ave., Nacogdoches, TX 75961-4052; or Heart to Heart Hospice, 5608 Malvey St., Suite 200, Fort Worth, TX 76107.
Arrangements are being handled by Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors in Nacogdoches. www.casonmonk-metcalf.com.
