Dorothy Murray

Dorothy May Murray
February 6, 1925 - September 14, 2025 

Dorothy was born in the New York City borough of Manhattan, to parents George Vance Holland and Octavia May Clark Holland. In July 1926, her brother Philip was born, creating a life-long bond between the two.  Dorothy's parents moved to the west coast when the two children were toddlers, living in Hollywood, Oceanside, Brawley, and the Glassell Park area of Los Angeles. 

Dorothy graduated from Franklin High School in 1943 and joined the workforce. Working first in a clerical position at a Los Angeles cigar company, she soon began her career at the Southern California Edison Company as an accounting and payroll clerk. She worked at Edison for more than 40 years, enjoying her job and all the good friends she met there. She was also a loyal member of IBEW Local 47 and worked with them to establish maternity leave rights for working mothers. 

It was at Edison that she met Chester Murray and the two fell deeply in love, marrying in December 1948. Dorothy and Chet were parents to three children, Colleen, Marilee, and David, and had a wonderful life, living first in Pico Rivera and then moving to West Covina in the mid-1960s. They had 47 years together until Chet's passing in 1995. After that, Dorothy filled her life with her grandchildren, gardening, knitting beautiful afghans, caring for her pets, keeping up her home, and traveling. 

Dorothy lived in the same home for decades and became good friends with her neighbors, who in her later years helped to look after her. She enjoyed serving her Church by taking care of the courtyard garden and baking cookies for the Walnut Festival. She was an avid traveler, visiting many areas of the United States as well as overseas to England and Europe. She loved animals and almost always had a pet or two for love and companionship. 

Most of all, Dorothy loved spending time with her growing family, especially hosting holiday gatherings and special events. 

Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, husband Chet, daughter Marilee Howell and son-in-law Michael Howell, grandson Jedediah Howell, brother Philip Holland, and nephew James Holland. She is survived by daughter Colleen Murray (Linda Corvan), son David (Lisa) Murray, grandchildren Allison Evans, Rhett (Danielle) Howell, Zachary Howell, Amanda Howell, Derrick Murray (Dianne Das), Timothy Murray (Arlet Mayelian), Alex (Bethany) Murray, Melissa Acevedo (Ezra Vazquez), Matthew Acevedo (Katie Rich), and great-granddaughter Bea Howell. Dorothy is also survived by her niece Lisa Holland, great-niece Sheryl Rathfelder (Daniel Gervais), cousin Paul Wheatley (Gidget Weale), and many other cherished cousins.

Dorothy's funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 4th, 2025, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 555 Gartel Drive, Walnut, California  91789.