Sr. Lois Murray, SP
April 28, 1923 - October 5, 2017
Obituary
LOIS MURRAY, SP
Sister Lois Murray, age 94, a Sister of Providence for 38 years, died October 5, 2017, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, WA. Vigil Service: Thursday, October 12, 2017, at 6:30 PM, and Funeral Mass: Friday, October 15 , 2017, at 11:00 AM, both at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Burial will be on Monday, October 23, 2017 at 1:00 PM, at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7200 N. Wall Street, Spokane, WA. Holy Cross Cemetery Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lois Murray was born April 28, 1923 to William and Helen (Hopkins) Murray, in Los Angeles, California. She was the youngest of two children. Lois entered the Sisters of Providence in September 1978 at Providence House, Seattle, WA, and in September 1979, she became a novice. In August of 1981 she professed first vows at Mount St. Joseph, in Spokane and in June 1985 she professed final vows on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Harlem, Montana.
Sister Lois attended Downey Union High School in Downey, California and graduated in 1940. She attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and graduated in 1946 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history with a minor in English. She also attended Long Beach Junior College in Long Beach, CA.
In May of 1957 Lois joined the Great Falls Tribune and served as the society editor until 1962. From 1962-65 Lois was director of public relations for the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then returned to the Great Falls Tribune in 1966 where she worked as a general assignment reporter until 1981. After being influenced by those she interviewed for the newspaper, she became a Catholic and then joined the Sisters of Providence. From 1982-90 Lois served in pastoral ministry in Harlem, MT, on the Fort Belknap Reservation; and from 1990-92 served as editor of the Good News, a St. Ignatius Province publication. Then from 1992-95 she was a ministry volunteer for the church in Great Falls, which included making home visits to parents of Indian children. In 1995 she retired to Mount St. Joseph, Spokane, where she maintained her interest in and passion for social justice and peace issues.
One of Sr. Lois’ favorite pastimes was photography. In 2011 she moved to St. Joseph Residence in Seattle where she enjoyed spending time with friends and her sisters in community.
Sr. Lois is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Eleanor.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016. To view Sr. Lois’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com
The Lois I knew was an inquisitive woman in search of the truth as a reporter and as a human being. Lois had a great sense of humour and she was a delight to be with. May God rest her sweet soul.
I remember Lois so well and she was a great reporter for our Tribune Newspaper.
It sounds as if she has a wonderful adventure for the rest of her life; so happy to read of that in the obit.
Lois Murray was a very special person who left her mark on Montana. When my husband was dying in 1968, Lois wrote a touching story which was published in the Great Falls Tribune.
In 1993 when our scientist friend passed away, Sister Lois was so compassionate. She will be fondly remembered by many.