Margaret Murray Obituary

Margaret "Margie" Ernestine
(Bishofberger) Murray
September 27, 1928
March 29, 2024

Margaret Murray
September 27, 1928- March 29, 2024
Margaret Ernestine Bishofberger Murray (Margie/Marge) was born to John Fredolin Bishofberger and Elfrieda Ernestine Nuernberger Bishofberger, in Little Black, a farming community a few miles from Medford, Wisconsin. Margie grew up with her brother Fredrick John "Fritz" and her sister, Dorothy, on a self-sufficient farm in Northern Wisconsin. Margie was always hard-working and did her share of the work on the farm. Her family sewed their own clothes, drove a tractor to cultivate corn, milked the dairy cows, and raised all of their food.
Her younger sister Carol "Cakkie" was born in 1942 and remained close to Margie throughout their lives. They took trips together around Colorado, the southern United States, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. Cakkie lived in Colorado Springs as part of the family every summer and temporarily moved to Colorado Springs to help care for Margie when she was in Hospice. Along with other family members, Cakkie's daughter, Andrea Clevenger and Fritz's son, Donald Bishofberger, also came to care for Margie while she was in Hospice. The family is very grateful to the staff of Compassus Hospice and Amada Home Care.
Margie attended Medford High School and played trombone in the band, was a co-editor of the high school paper, and a member of the debate team. In 1946 Marge began her attendance at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, earning a degree in Botany and Family & Consumer Education, in what is now called the School of Human Ecology. She earned her Masters of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Colorado, in Colorado Springs, in 1982.
When Marge earned the prestigious Crystal Apple Award in District #11 in 1993, her colleagues at Palmer High School remarked that she was a dedicated, sincere, hard-working teacher, that put students first. Marge was considered an ambassador for kids, public education, Palmer High School, and the community of Colorado Springs.
Marge traveled widely in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Europe, and Russia. She developed slide shows and dialogue that were presented in the community and to students at Palmer High School.
When she was 13 years old and in High School, Margie met Robert (Bob) Bruce Murray and they liked each other immediately. This meeting was the spark that developed into a deep love that flourished over their entire lives. They were married in 1949 at the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Medford, Wisconsin.
After tearful family goodbyes and Bob's graduation from Law School, Marge and Bob put everything they owned in an old 1941 Hudson and traveled to Colorado Springs. At that time, Colorado Springs had a population of 45,268 and had been founded 80 years before with new and well-kept buildings. Marge supported Bob's work at Shepard's Citations, a bookkeeping service for small businesses, and a private law practice. They loved Colorado Springs and decided that this was the place that they wanted to raise their family. Marge and Bob both possessed strong feelings that family was the most important single thing to the children that they wanted to bring into the world.
Marge and Bob had five children. Their children include Lynne Carol Murray Stefonik (John Stefonik), Jeff Bryan Murray (Deborah Evers), Michele Karen Free, and Darla Kim Murray. Their first child died in 1952, shortly after birth. They are also survived by grandchildren: Jed Reza (Candace), Tim Reza, Anne Powell (Frank Powell), Jaclyn Grieff, Caryn Carruthers (Bryan Carruthers) and Seth Murray (Megan Murray), great-grandchildren: Annalise Pilar Reza, Natalie Ann Carruthers, Owen Michael Carruthers, Emma Lynne Powell, John Wesley Powell, and many nephews and nieces.
In 1952, on an excursion along the front range near Colorado Springs, Marge scoped the dial of the car radio and stopped when she heard the voice of a man presenting a sermon. This individual is said to have had a pleasant, uplifting method of delivery with a message that religion should not be shoved into a dogma; one should always have an open mind, always searching and studying and willing to accept new truths. The announcer signed off with the minister's name: The Reverend Thomas Chalmers Dick of First Congregational Church, Colorado Springs. The following Sunday Marge and Bob visited FCC and found a church home. Margaret raised her family as part of this church, participated in services and completed volunteer work, remaining a member of this church the rest of her life.
Marge passed away in her own home surrounded by love, after a short battle with cancer. She will be greatly missed. In lieu of cards and flowers, please send a contribution to the First Congregational Church, UCC, Colorado Springs, 20 E. St. Vrain, 80903. A "Celebration of Life" service will be announced and held at First Congregational Church sometime this Spring.