Kenneth McMurray

Kenneth Charles (“Ken”) McMurray passed away on March 8, 2021, aged 93, in Baldwin City, Kansas.  He was born January 11, 1928, the fourth and youngest child of James M. and Laura M. McMurray, in Gary Indiana.   Ken attended elementary and high school in Gary, IN, graduating from Lew Wallace High School in 1946.  He then joined the US Navy, serving at sea on active duty until 1948.

The first in his family to attend college, Ken graduated from  McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas, in 1952. He subsequently obtained a master’s degree from Fort Hays State University. While attending McPherson College, he met and fell in love with Bonnie Myers.  They married on February 10, 1952 and remained devoted to each other for nearly 69 years, until her passing in December 2020.

Ken was an educator, teaching in the Bazine, Lorraine, and Hutchinson, Kansas public schools before joining the faculty of Hutchinson Community College in 1965.  He remained there, teaching science courses, until his retirement in 1990.   While at HCC, Ken served as an assistant football coach for 12 years, and as science department chair and KNEA representative on several occasions. 

Ken and Bonnie were members of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hutchinson for over 50 years. Their children were all raised in the church and they were active as a family. For decades, Ken was actively involved as an adult Sunday school teacher and usher. 

Ken’s community activities included serving as an assistant scoutmaster, membership in Civitan’s and in the American Legion, and volunteering at the NJCAA basketball tournament. An avid golfer and fisherman, Ken enjoyed getting together with family and friends to pursue these pastimes.  In later years, Ken took an interest in woodworking and built many furniture pieces for his family.  Following retirement, he was a frequent participant in the Spangles morning coffee group. Devoted to his family, Ken was proud and supportive of his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Ken and Bonnie enjoyed traveling around the United States after his retirement. Their favorite trips were to Alaska and Hawaii.

In 2014 Ken and Bonnie moved to Topeka and in 2018 to Baldwin City, Kansas to be closer to their daughters Dee and Laura.

Ken is survived by his children: Susan Palasciano of Austin, Texas; Dee Beaudet (Ernie) of Manhattan, Kansas; Laura Weiss (Steve) of Baldwin City, Kansas; and Jim McMurray (Kathy) of Evansville, Indiana.  He is also survived by twelve grandchildren:  Michael Palasciano (Veronica) of San Antonio, Texas; Elliott Palasciano of Las Vegas, Nevada; Joe Beaudet (Karen) of Kearney, Missouri; Austin Beaudet of Los Angeles, California; Alexis Sellers (Sam) of San Francisco, California; Audrey Beaudet of Lawrence, Kansas; Tony Weiss of Kansas City, Missouri; Samantha Weiss of Washington, D.C.; Emily Weiss of Lawrence, Kansas; Dr Matthew Weiss (Kristy) of Quebec City, Canada; Kelley Weiss Newcomb (Rob) of Woodland, California;  and Jim McMurray of Evansville, Indiana.  Ken is also survived by ten great grandchildren.

Following Covid-19 guidelines, funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 15, 2021, at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home Baldwin City, Kansas.  Interment will be at 3:00 p.m., Monday March 15, 2021, at Excelsior Cemetery, Marquette, KS.  The service will be live streamed on the funeral home Facebook page. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to the HCC Endowment Association for the Ken McMurray Scholarship at www.hutchcc.edu/online-giving or sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers and staff at the Dunn’s Vista Morningstar Care home for their kind and loving care over the last two and a half years, as well as the staff and caregivers of Midland Hospice.

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