Raymond Frank Murrell

Raymond “Ray” Frank Murrell of Maple Valley, Washington, passed away on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the age of 86. He was born on July 23,1938, in Homestead, Pennsylvania. At a very early age, his family moved to Los Angeles, California, where he grew up. He met and fell in love with Barbara “Barb” Ann Johnson at the age of 16. He spent the next four years in the United States Air Force, which took him abroad to Paris, France. He was an Airman First Class, when he decided to leave the military. During his time in the service, he married Barb at The Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 5, 1957. They were married for over 67 years at the time of his passing.

He completed his military service while living in Missouri, then they decided to move back home to California. He worked as an aircraft mechanic for Douglas Aircraft Company for a while, until hired on as a Glendale Police Officer in Los Angeles County, California. He enjoyed being a police officer, but the heat in California was too much, where he was required to wear long sleeves due to his tattoo, on his right forearm of a skunk, which had “stinker” written below it. At this time, police officers were not allowed to have tattoos. So, his career path changed to Industrial Equipment Sales, which took him, and now his young family to Boise, Idaho, and then onto Kirkland, Washington. They resided in the greater Seattle area for nearly 50 years. Ray fully embraced the Pacific Northwest, and all the beauty and recreation it had to offer. He was known to say, “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

After working in Industrial Equipment Sales for decades, he made another career change to become a professional driver for King County Metro Transit, which is the main public transit authority for the Seattle region. He loved driving the bus, and overall, it was his favorite profession. He retired from King County Metro Transit, and continued to live in Maple Valley, Washington until 2022. Their daughter moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2020, so they decided to follow her. They resided in Iron Station, North Carolina, at the time of his passing.

He spent his life actively involved in various clubs and organizations. He belonged to an archery club in the 60s/70s. In the early 70s, he enjoyed camping and fly fishing in Jarbidge, Nevada. Then, in the late 70s, they joined the Yarrow Bay Yacht Club in Kirkland, Washington, where he became Commodore. He had ownership of many power boats throughout the 70s/80s/90s, with three of them named the ‘Tollipop,’ because they were all Tollycraft. He enjoyed boating throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada, where he made so many lifelong friends, and all were considered family. He took an interest in gourmet cooking, where he loved to cook for friends and family. He particularly loved telling his “Chef Ramone” story to anyone who would listen. After selling the boat, his interests turned to golf, along with building model sailboats, gliders, and remote-control cars.

In 1977, he joined the brotherhood of Freemasons in Washington. Then, he went on to join the Scottish Rite Shriners. This was an especially important organization to him, where he was a lifetime member. He became a 32nd degree mason within the association.

Ray was an avid Seattle sports fan. He held season tickets to the Seattle Seahawks since their inception in 1976. He loved the Seattle Mariners as well. He enjoyed watching all the Washington College football games.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Freman Irwin Murrell and Thelma Florence (Dellett) Murrell, and his sister, Thelma June Murrell, all from Los Angeles County, California.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann (Johnson) Murrell, his son, Jeffrey Scott Murrell (Dawn), and his daughter, Kristina Diane (Murrell) Hunter (Sammie). His grandchildren, Chalene Marie (Braboy) Rock (Eric), Eric Jeffrey Murrell (Kristine), Jackson Scott Murrell, and Benjamin Kelly Murrell. His great-grandchildren, Everett Samuel Rock (6), Emmett Walter Rock (4), and Kaelyn Louise Murrell (5).

Family and friends will be invited to attend a memorial service at a later date. His wish was to have a combined Celebration of Life with his beloved wife, Barb.

His inurnment is at the Tahoma National Cemetery located at 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA, 98042, where he is peacefully laid to rest.