Kenneth Vadney Murray

Kenneth Vadney Murray, loyal husband, and proud father and grandfather passed away peacefully on March 1, 2019 in Chico, California at the age of 91. Vadney was born in Westwood, California on May 18, 1927 to Kenneth Blood Murray and Marie Vadney Murray of Greenville, California and spent his childhood in the picturesque mountain community of Greenville. On May 24th, 1945 Vadney entered in active duty with the United States Navy and served through the duration of World War II. Following his discharge from the United States Navy on July 15, 1946 he received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1950 with a major in Business Administration. After his graduation he completed a training program with Fireman's Fund Insurance in San Francisco, California and then returned to Greenville to begin his career as a partner in Murray Insurance Agency, a firm founded by his grandfather in 1883. In 1953 Vadney moved to Quincy, California and purchased J.N. Stephens Insurance Agency. While in Quincy he met Jean Evanikoff Murray and they were married on August 16, 1958. Together they built a beautiful home on Bucks Lake Road and raised their children, Tanya Marie Murray, Kenneth Vadney Murray Jr. and Kevin Ian Murray. Following his retirement, he and Jean, seeking refuge from the mountain winters moved to Sun City in Roseville, California and finally to Chico, California. Vadney was an avid hunter and fisherman. Many summer days were enjoyed with family and friends fly fishing for trout on the waters of Montana's Madison and Big Hole Rivers, hunting deer on the mountains surrounding Greenville, Ca and the Egan Ranch in Susanville, CA. Particularly special to him were the misty Autumn mornings he spent marveling at sunrises beneath the splendor of the Sutter Buttes while shooting mallards and pintails, then sipping evening bourbons and swapping stories with great friends at the Colusa Shooting Club. At his home in Quincy, CA he would spend endless hours providing affectionate care to his yard in which he took great pride. Guests to the home often expressed admiration of his prized rose garden and the medley of tuberous begonias which adorned the front porch. In the early evenings of the mountain summer months he and Jean savored sitting on the deck beneath their centerpiece maple tree sipping gin and tonics as they admired the beauty of Mt. Hough and Spanish Peak. Vadney did his best to influence a better tomorrow for his community through his service as President of the Quincy Rotary Club, Director of the Plumas County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Quincy Swim Pool Association, Charter Member of the Feather River College Advisory Board, and Secretary of the Save the Middlefork League. Vadney was predeceased by his wife Jean in 2016 and his brother Robert Lewis Murray of Greenville, CA in 2015. Vadney is survived by his sister Ellen and husband Harold Taresh of Phoenix, AZ; brother John and wife Nancy Murray of Susanville, CA; his daughter Tanya Marie Sullivan (Bill) of Petaluma, CA, and his sons Kenneth Vadney Murray, Jr. (Rebecca Radtke) of Santa Rosa, CA and Kevin Ian Murray (Jane) of Chico, CA. He leaves five grandchildren, Jean Frances Liberatore of Bellevue, WA, William Joseph Sullivan of Santa Clara, CA, and Regan Elise Murray, Brenna Jane Murray and Keaton David Murray of Chico, CA. At Vadney's request, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, Vadney's family asks friends to make contributions to the charity of their choice. An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at https://www.brusiefh.com/.