Lasting Memories

Isabel Murray
July 8, 1931-Sept. 8, 2024
Palo Alto, California

Isabel Perez Murray, a Palo Alto resident for sixty-four years, passed away surrounded by loving family members and her caregivers. She was born July 8, 1931 in Madera, California. She was the oldest of eleven siblings and the younger sister to her half-brother. While attending primary and secondary school, she concurrently worked part-time and full time in the summers in support of her parent's family. Isabel felt determined to break the mold formed of her circumstances; her strong and independent personality proved her determined and successful throughout her lifetime.

In her early adult years of the 1940’s, there were few professional opportunities available to women, and Isabel’s perseverance earned her a beautician’s license. An independent business owner, she successfully practiced her trade for fifty years. Had Isabel come of age in the 1960’s or thereafter, her “no nonsense” and “common sense” business attitude would have landed her with an MBA. Alas, raising five boys and jokingly a sixth (her husband) while simultaneously running a business expended her time and energy. A success story, Isabel secured several properties in Palo Alto; along with her fondness for conversing with diverse peoples, she may have enjoyed a career in real estate.

As Isabel’s life progressed, she met and later married Kenneth Alvin Murray, Sr. (in the early 1950’s). A high school and junior high school teacher and football coach, Ken was the intellect of the team, while Isabel was the hands-on pragmatist. Together, they were also a dynamic dancing duo. In 1960, when Ken was accepted into USC and Stanford’s Ph.D. programs, Isabel helped discern whether to live in Silicon Valley (which was mostly farming fields) or move to a warm climate. Fans of the cooler climate, they opted to leave their hometowns and start a new life in Palo Alto.

Among Isabel’s other life accomplishments includes raising five boys. She was a supportive PTA member and Scouting mom, helping her sons navigate through Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts; she modeled life getting through the schools: Escondido, Terman, and Gunn. These years were particularly busy years for Isabel, who, in addition to raising the five boys, also ran her own small business as a hair stylist.

Except for four years at the Charleston Meadows neighborhood and two years on the Stanford Campus (Escondido Village), Isabel lived most of her adult life (fifty-eight years) in the College Terrance neighborhood of Palo Alto. She felt a sense of pride sharing her community with family and friends. Isabel was a forerunner in the Palo Alto’s Neighbors Aboard program that hosted visiting students. She also served as a chaperone for Palo Alto students visiting Mexico and Spain. While living in Palo Alto, her pastimes with family and friends included visiting Foothill Park, Lake Lagunita, Mitchell Park, the Palo Alto Harbor, and the Stanford campus. She also loved to travel, and amongst her favorite places to visit included New England, Florida, Mexico, Spain, Germany, and Denmark.

Despite Isabel’s international adventures, there was “no place like home.” Isabel was particularly fond of her hometown, Palo Alto, and nearby Stanford University. She was known to hold gratitude for Stanford’s international population, intellectual influence, and the numerous events the university yearly sponsored. She became a die-hard Stanford Indian and later Cardinal football fan. She was also a lover of garage sales and the Goodwill store. Of Palo Alto she oft’ remarked, “I am so grateful to have lived here, climate wise, people wise, and otherwise.” In the last year of her life, at age ninety-three, she shared, “I’ve had a great life. We should all be so lucky.”

She was the grandmother of nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one more great-grandchild on the way. She is survived and loved by numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. Isabel is also survived by her sons Kenny, Kelly, Kraig, Kevin and daughter-in-law Ariel; and siblings Mary, Tom, Vicky, Albert, Julie, Irene, and Johnny. In addition, sister-in-law Doris Fay Murray-Hauser. Isabel was predeceased by husband Kenneth A Murray Sr,. son Keith Murray, parents Tomas and Stella, brothers Trinidad, Laurence, Raymond, and Robert; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law George, Charlene, Bill, Jack, and Myra, plus nephew/nieces Larry, Ted, Leann, and David.

We will miss you, Mom. Rest now. The dishes are in the dishwasher, the back and front door are locked, and we know there is plenty of food in the refrigerator. And, we’ll be careful. “See you when I see you.”