Karen (Young) Murray - Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory

Karen (Young) Murray

Born July 26, 1943

Karen (Young) Murray, age 73, of Newark, DE, departed this life on Thursday, September 8, 2016.

Born 26th July, 1943 in Grove City, Mercer County, PA, first child of Miller and Lillian Mae (Swanson) Young, she lived in Stoneboro until summer of 1947 before moving to a tiny bungalow in Summerville, Jefferson Co, PA. She attended the United Methodist Church a block away and elementary school and junior high school nearby, was a 1961 class member of Brookville High School.

She first wed James Willis Fenstermaker 4th January, 1960. The family moved to Newark, DE in 1965. Divorced in 1968, she remained in Newark for the rest of her life.

Karen worked on the assembly line for 22 years at Chrysler Corp., retiring in 1994. There she met her husband, William Russell Murray, Sr. They wed 15th July, 1991, Brewster, on Cape Cod, MA.

She was a member and past regent of Cooch’s Bridge Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution since 1979. She was an avid genealogist; traveled 4 times to Europe; was interested in history, played Scrabble, watched Jeopardy religiously. Loved good music, especially anything by Tchaikovsky; enjoyed watching figure skating shows and meeting famous people. She saw several Presidents in person: Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, saw Princess Margaret of UK; King Carl IVI, Gustav and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and also met their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria. She was a life member of the Delaware Swedish Colonial Society. She loved decorating her home for the holidays and collecting, particularly anything relating to the Wizard of Oz. She owned hundreds of costumes and often dressed family and friends for the annual Newark Halloween Parade, winning several times. Karen liked party planning and going to yard sales with her daughter. Karen enjoyed the annual Swanson Family reunions since 1956, a five generation event at the Greenwood Hunting Lodge on Rockton Mountain in Clearfield Co., PA near Curwesville.

More than anything, Karen loved being with her family. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her four children, Brenda (David) Grinnage of Newark, Steve (Crystal) Fenstermaker of Clovis, NM, David Fenstermaker of Newark and Joe Fenstermaker of Brookville, PA; step children, Bill (Bridgette) Murray, Jr., of Newark, Ed (Jackie) Murray of Conowingo, MD, Ron Murray of Elkton, MD, Barb (Rick) Smilyk of New Castle, David (Teresa) Murray of IL; sister, Kendra (Dick) Woodring of Middletown; brother, Scott (Sherry) Young of Brookville, PA; 11 grandchildren, Jonathan (Michelle) Miller and David J. Grinnage of DE, Ashleigh (Jeff) Tackitt, Brittany (Shane) Crockett, Kathryn Hernandez, Cristin and Andrea Moralez (Troy), both of Clovis, NM, Stacey Price of Bear, DE, Searra Fenstermaker of Newark, Kelly and Megan Fenstermaker, both of Brookville, PA; 23 great grandchildren, Jordan, Brooklyn and Regina of DE, Stephen, Paul, Nick, Brody, Cali, Katelynn, Isaac, Karlee, Jaydin, Albert, Ricky, Jimmie and Timothy all of NM, Amyia, Mark, Aleia, Payton, and D.J., all of DE, Cameron and Kyler of PA, and one more expected earlier next year; 10 step grandchildren; 29 step great grandchildren; 1 niece; 4 nephews; and 10 first cousins.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday, September 12, 2016 at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm followed by a funeral service at 7:30 pm. A committal service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday morning, September 13, 2016 in the chapel of the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE.

Condolences

Leave your condolences

Condolences will be posted within 24 hours pending approval.

11 Condolences for Karen (Young) Murray

  • Aunt Karen U lived you more than you knew. Thank you for always including me in things with your grandchildren when I was a kid. I loved listening to all your stories and learned a lot from you. You always put your family first. You were smart in more ways than one. I know you will be watching over us all. It won’t be the same without you. I am going to miss you. I love you and will see you again one day. Rest easy my loving sweet aunt.

  • My gram was the smartest person i no she is more than a memory im gonna miss getting cards every holiday this is just temporary we will be back together one day

  • I am so sorry to hear of Karen’s passing. My prayers for comfort from God above go out to your entire family. Lord bless and keep you through this valley!

  • Karen was a remarkable woman. Very kind hearted. Was wonderful with my granddaughter who she treated like she was her own. Always remembered her on holidays and her birthday. She will be irreplaceable. My condolences to her family. What a prize Heaven now has.

    Jean Doyle

  • Sending my condolences to family and friends
    Karen / Mom was a wonderful person inside and out it was a joy to be around her learning new things,she is in the Lords hands now rest in peace sweetie till we meet again ❤️

  • Karen,

    No one treasured Greenwood more than you… I’ll always remember the scars I received from you while trying to push you off the raft at Greenwood pond; nor the time we climbed the fire tower and threw the “dummy” off the top. How did we know the entire camp would com rushing to see who had fallen.

    I’ll miss you Karen.

  • I will miss my oldest sister. She always had the family first in her heart, thoughts and actions. God Bless you Karen, tell Dad all he has missed as I am sure he has missed you.

  • I will miss her! She helped make my childhood fun! The tea parties, going to greenwood, the Newark parade, all her cabbage patch kids she had that I always used to play with! She was a wonderful person! Rest in Heaven Karen!

  • We have the best memories of Karen, planning memorable events, decorating her home for holidays, and her love of family – and everyone she loved she treated as family. Our hearts go out to her family. Remember we love and care about you, we are here to support you in your time of grief. With sincere sympathy, Lexie and Bill

  • Dear Kendra and family, so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

  • Thoughts and prayers to Brenda, Steven, David and Joe. Your mom was a wonderful woman and I will never forget how caring and thoughtful she was. I am so sorry for your loss but know how much she loved you. Wish I could have come to the service to see all of you and pay my respects. Please let me know if there is anything you all need