Jo Anne Murray

Memorial Services for Jo Anne Murray will be conducted from the St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverends Karen Watson and Ronald Hennies, officiating. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Jo Anne Murray, 79 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at the Mt. Carmel Home-Keens Memorial in Kearney, Nebraska. Jo Anne was born May 12, 1931 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to George and Bertha (Johnson) Lillie and a brother, George "Pete" Lillie later joined the family. She lived in many places as a small child until moving back to her mother's home town of Holdrege in sixth grade, where she graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1950.

Following her education, Jo Anne was united in marriage on March 17, 1952 in Norton, Kansas to Donald L. Murray and to this union five children were born: Daniel, Mary, David, Lauri and Mark. Jo Anne and Donald resided in several communities throughout the state until 1958, when they settled to Holdrege. Jo Anne was employed at many places over the years, but she enjoyed her jobs at the Hamburger Inn, The Holdrege Daily Citizen and the Sun Theatre the most. She and Donald also owned Don's Package and the Conoco Station for several years. On February 28, 1998 she was preceded in death by her husband, Don.

Jo Anne was a member of the St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church of Holdrege since 1966, where she was an active member until her passing. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, where she served as Past President.

Jo Anne loved being around people and her door was always open to anyone who needed a place. After losing her brother in 1956, she included many others in her immediate family including: Jeannine Hopkins as a sister; Fr. Ronald Hennies as a brother; Francine Bahm as a daughter; Greg Corbitt as a son; Jane Donadio as a daughter; John Titus as a son; and many others through the years.

Besides her husband, Don and her brother, Pete; she was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law: Jean and Pat Bibbey and a nephew, Rodney Bibbey.

She leaves to mourn her passing her five children: Daniel Murray of Holdrege, Mary Jensen of Atlanta, Nebraska, David Murray, Lauri Lawson and Mark Murray and his wife, Kari all of Holdrege; ten grandchildren: Stephanie Murray of Holdrege, Matthew Jensen and his wife, Dani of Jacksonville, Florida, Benjamin Jensen and his special friend, Amanda McCarter of Atlanta, Callie Lawson, Cozmo Murray, and Candice Spiker all of Holdrege, Dylan O'Reagan of Lincoln, Nebraska, Lezlee Sasse of Holdrege, Michael Spiker of Holdrege and Wyatt Schutz of Atlanta; two great-grandchildren: Trenton Murray of Holdrege and Dalton McCarter of Atlanta; nieces: Patty Thomas and family of Georgia, Dorothy Elsey and family of Lincoln, Carolyn Pederson and family of Holdrege and nephew, Larry Bibbey and family of Minden, Nebraska; and a host of other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation; the family is honoring her wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in her memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.