William D. Murray

William D. “Bill” Murray, 65, a resident of 305 N. Morgan St., Mentone, Ind., died unexpectedly at 1:38 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, in Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind., due to complications of a Jan. 14th surgery. Bill had been a Plymouth resident for ten years, coming from Los Angeles County, Calif. in 1990, before moving to Mentone in 2000. Born in Chicago, Ill., on Mar. 7, 1936, he was the son of John and Beatrice Murray. During the 50’s Bill served two years in the Army Air Force and then earned his G.E.D. On Nov. 25, 1961, in Denver, Colo., he and Karen K. Stanley were married. Very mechanically inclined, in California, he was a design engineer in Aerospace.. He loved the California pines area where he bought land for his family to one day enjoy. He currently worked as a security guard, part-time for Reese Security of Warsaw. A true Scotsman, he was proud of his Celtic heritage and had traced his O’Knuckie family tree. He was very close to his grandfather, William Murray, for whom he was named. A kid himself at heart, Bill loved children and enjoyed doing things with his grandchildren. He attended St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church and was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in LaPuente, Calif. He was also a member of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Bill is survived by his former wife, a son, two daughters and their families. His son is Kevin B. Murray and his children, Shawn and Shane, all of Santa Anna Heights, Calif. The daughters are: Laraine D. and John Sparr and their children, Kayla, Jeffery and Brandi; Cara L. Murray and her children Josh, Frannie, Brent and Aaron, all of Plymouth. Three sisters also survive. They are: Patricia Ellison and Sandra Dunbar, both of Calif., and Geraldine Reynolds, Elkhart. A sister-in-law, Elish Murray of Calif. also survives. Numerous nephews and nieces also survive together with close family friends, Primo and Jesse Siepin. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and by a brother, John Murray, Jr. There will be no visitation; the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, is in charge of arrangements. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002, in St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, 625 N. Center St., Plymouth. The Rev. Father Anthony Gillespie will officiate. According to Bill’s wishes, cremation will take place. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church.