Jean Evanikoff Murray

Jean Evanikoff Murray passed peacefully on February 25, 2016 in Chico, California in the loving embrace of her children. She lived her final years meeting the challenges of dementia of the Alzheimer's Type with tremendous grace in the care of Amber Grove Place. Jean was born on October 25, 1934 to Fred and Eunice Evanikoff in Vacaville, California and spent most of her childhood in Dixon, CA. She was a 1952 graduate of Dixon High School where she developed a lifelong passion for writing, language and music. She became an accomplished pianist while studying at the University of California, Berkeley, where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Go Bears! She moved to Quincy, California after graduating from Cal in 1956 and soon met her future husband, Kenneth Vadney Murray. After they married on August 16, 1958, Jean taught Spanish and Music at Quincy High School while she and Vadney built a beautiful home on Bucks Lake Road and raised three children, Tanya Marie Murray, Kenneth Vadney Murray Jr., and Kevin Ian Murray. Jean shared her love of music with the community as a piano teacher, the Methodist Church Choir Director, pianist for the Chamber Music Society and FRC Community Choir and she played at many weddings. She was a member of Soroptimist International and AAUW, a Cub Scout Den Mother, a 4-H Leader, volunteered in the Little League Snack Shack and at the Plumas County Museum. She was an accomplished seamstress, gardener and cook. She loved to entertain in her beautiful home and backyard overlooking the American Valley. The lovely Irish Knit sweaters she made for countless newborns and the intricate needlepoint Christmas stockings she crafted for each member of her family are cherished mementos of a diversely talented and selfless woman. Jean was the office manager (or should it be secretary) at Murray Insurance Agency for many years before resuming her career in Education at the Plumas Unified School District Office supporting the Special Education Program. And somehow, she found the time to be the best Mom ever, nurturing her children's interest in everything from Monarch butterflies to learning what rattlesnake tastes like. In later years, Jean learned to ski, loved to walk the beloved family Labrador retrievers and cherished trips to Oregon to visit her kids while they were away at college. She developed a passion for genealogy, cultivating many new friendships while tracing the Evanikoff and Murray Family Trees. She and Vadney traveled to Nova Scotia, Canada and Switzerland and enjoyed vacations across the US with her kids, grandchildren and family friends, including a trip to Montana each summer. Following the epic snowfall of 2001, Jean and Vadney moved to Sun City Roseville and then Chico where winters were easier. During these years, Jean was a devoted Babushka to her Grandchildren, sharing delightful Russian traditions and nurturing their interest in history, music and culture. Always their greatest fan, she attended every game, recital, play and school activity she could well into her illness. Jean is survived by her husband Kenneth Vadney Murray of Chico, her daughter Tanya Marie Sullivan (Bill) of Petaluma, CA, and her sons Kenneth Vadney Murray, Jr. (Rebecca Radtke) of Santa Rosa, CA and Kevin Ian Murray (Jane) of Chico, CA. Jean leaves five adoring grandchildren, Jean Frances Liberatore of Kansas City, KS, William Joseph Sullivan of Petaluma, CA, and Regan Elise, Brenna Jane and Keaton David Murray of Chico. At Jean's request, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, Jean's family asks that donations in her memory be made to The Alzheimer's Association in care of Brusie Funeral Home, 626 Broadway, Chico, CA 95928. Do svidaniya Mama. Until we meet again.