Everett "Jake" Leo Murray of Prosser passed away peacefully at home on September 4, 2017. Everett was born November 21, 1921 in Alta Vista, Kansas, the youngest of five children born to William Simpson Murray and Nettie Generva (Whittaker) Murray.
Everett´s youth and young adult life were spent in Kansas. He was employed at Beech Aircraft near Herington, Kansas, from 1952 to 1956 before relocating to Prosser in 1957. In 1962, he married Donna June (Thompson) Johnson and they blended a family of ten children between the ages of two and sixteen.
From 1958 to 1983, Everett was employed at the WSU Agriculture Research and Extension Center and was fortunate to work for Merrit Ikely who became a lifelong friend. Everett spent summer vacations working the wheat harvest for Rod Travis and winter vacations deer hunting with friends. Always the gentleman farmer, Everett had a myriad of farm animals on his Steele Road property. He was a frequent morning customer at the feed store “coffeehouse” with the Murphy brothers, Vic and Bill, and in the afternoon you could find him at his picture window, monitoring and reporting on the daily traffic to all who visited.
Everett is survived by 10 children: Nolan Murray, Bradley (Joyce) Murray, Connie (Jeff) Huber, Sharon (Jim) Fulton, Pamela (Jule) Weil, Clayton (Judy) Johnson, Barbara Brant, Leonard Johnson, Diane (Steve) Woods and LaDonna (Geoff) Jolly, as well as 32 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren and 6 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 16 years, Donna (1978), his great-grandson Matthew James Cole Murray II (1995), his grandson Gary Allen Murray (2015) and his siblings: Violet May Syring, Goldie Elizabeth Adam, Dora Louise Wendt and Leslie Robert Murray. Also preceding him in death was his close circle of friends who created but denied the existence of a daily telephone tree: Bill Pickard, Babe Dare and Don Eucker.
The family would like to thank Heartlinks for their care and guidance. Additionally, the family would especially like to thank Everett’s daughter, Connie, and her husband, Jeff, for the many years that she tended to Everett, allowing him to stay in his home. We are all deeply indebted to her.
Viewing will be Friday, September 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Prosser Funeral Home. Graveside services will be Saturday, September 9, at 11 a.m. at Prosser Cemetery with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Everett’s name to Heartlinks Hospice at 3920 Outlook Road, Sunnyside, Washington 98944. You may leave a message for the family at www.Prosserfuneralhome.com
