| Helen Earline Murray |
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| People | |||
| Written by Terrie Cole | |||
| Wednesday, 24 February 2010 09:00 | |||
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1928-2010 Helen Earline Murray, 82, Paola, died Feb. 18, 2010, at her home. Earline was born Feb. 14, 1928, in Kansas City, Kan., to Thomas Earl and Helen Marguerite Brown. She was a member of the 1945 class at North Kansas City High School, where she was a class officer, cheerleader and homecoming queen. After school, she was a secretary at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. On March 16, 1949, she married Gene Murray in Kansas City, Mo., where she worked as a medical transcriptionist and where they lived until they moved to Paola in 1954. There they raised a family of four children. In 1969, they purchased a radio and television retail business in Paola, which they renamed Murray Radio and TV. She worked there until they sold the business in 1991. She became the full-time store manager when she and Gene started a cable television operation in Paola in 1972. Paola Cable TV eventually expanded to include Spring Hill, Osawatomie, La Cygne, Louisburg and Drexel, Mo. It was sold in 1986. She was in charge of the reading program when Head Start began in Paola in the 1960s. She was a former Third Ward Committeewoman for the Democratic Party, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and a member of the Miami County Hospital Auxiliary. She was an active member of Paola Christian Church, serving on its board, teaching Sunday School, and teaching vacation Bible school. She was also a member of the Paola Country Club, past president of the Shamrock Study Club, and an avid bridge player. She loved sports, especially KU and the San Antonio Spurs teams. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, within the 48 continental United States and to Hawaii, Alaska and the British Isles. After retirement, she made quilts for all her children. She was known for her spunk, her generosity at Christmas, her love of dressing up for Halloween and creative practical jokes. Her life revolved around her church, her family, her friends and neighbors. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Survivors include her husband, Gene of the home; daughter, Donna Rowlett of Centerville; three sons, Kent Murray of Paola, Keith Murray of Shawnee and Kevin Murray of Wiley, Texas; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Dorothy May Myers of Claycomo, Mo.; two half-brothers, Danny Brown and Tom Brown; and one half-sister, Marie Johnson. Services were Monday followed by burial at the Paola Cemetery. Arrangements were under the care of Penwell-Gabel Paola Chapel, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071, (913) 294-2372. Pallbearers were Gene Kramer, Crayton Rowlett, Bryson Murray, Tom Doherty, Mike Brown, Jim Johnson, Ernie Marmon and Lee Mott. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Clemens, Greg Knecht, Peter Lee, Rusty Debrick, Phil McLaughlin, Jerry White and Charlie Rowlett. Memorials may be made to the Paola Christian Church.
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