Serena Kay Murray
March 4, 1953 - October 27, 2021
Serena Kay (McConathy) Murray, 68, passed away on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 in Tucson, AZ. She was born March 4, 1953 in Deming, New Mexico. She was the second of five daughters born to Boyce and Jewell (Hays) McConathy. In 1974, Kay graduated from Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM with a BA in Elementary Education. In 1980, she furthered her education with a Masters Degree. She taught in the Deming Public School system for 10 years, teaching 1st, 3rd and 4th grades at both Martin and Chaparral Elementary.
On July 7, 1984, Kay married John Edgar Murray III in Deming, NM. They made their home in Sierra Vista, AZ, where John was employed by the Division of the Army at Fort Huachuca as a Program Analyst. They had two children, Michael and Karen. Kay considered herself very fortunate to be a stay at home mom.
Kay spent many hours providing care for others, including her mother, Jewell; husband, John; mother-in-law, Edna; and her father, Boyce.
She was also known as “Aunt Kay” to multiple nieces and nephews for whom she watched over, starting from 1971-2020. Kay was also known as “Nana” to great nieces and nephews whom she loved and claimed as her own grandchildren.
Kay is survived by her children, Michael Brendan Murray, Karen Janetta Murray; her sisters Judy (Gary) Henley, Mary Wilson, Rebecca (Bernard) Bartlett, Doris Lancaster, her sister-in-law Vicky (Craig) Parchman, numerous nieces & nephews, and great-nieces & great-nephews.
Kay was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Murray III; her parents, Boyce and Jewell McConathy; in-law’s John E. Jr. “Jack” and Edna Murray; and brother-in-law’s, David Wilson & Bill Lancaster.
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