William Murray

William (Bill) K. Murray passed away on May 20, 2008 at the age of 87 due to complications from diabetes. He was born on March 9, 1921 to George and Evelyn Murray in Oakland, California. BID graduated from Oakland High School and then attended the College of Agriculture in Davis, a college farm extension of UC Berkeley. His education was interrupted when Bill and his Sigma P1 fraternity brothers decided to serve their county in WWII by joining the Army Air Corps. They all enlisted in 1942. In that same year he married Dawn Ochs, his sweetheart since 8th grade. Beginning his military service as an aviation cadet, Bill advanced to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant serving as a flight instructor for B-17 Bomber pilots. While stationed in Hobbs, New Mexico, he and Dawn greeted their first child, Andrea. After an honorable discharge, Bill returned to Davis in 1947 to complete his education. He served as Student Body President and Chairman of the annual Picnic Day, a week long, campus wide event which continues to be one of the largest student run events in the nation. He was also a member of "Sword and Sandals," a campus interest group which was then a secret society of prominent individuals. Former UC President Robert Gordon Sproul was a regular attendee at meetings as they laid the groundwork enabling Davis to become a UC campus. In 1949, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry, Bill began his professional career with American Trust Company in Modesto. It was there that Dawn and Bill welcomed their second child, Jeff. Bill's entrepreneurial spirit caused him to partner with a fraternity brother and buy a dairy in French Camp. After a few years of hard work, early mornings, long days and no time away, they sold the dairy. Having driven through Chico, Bill and Dawn decided that Chico was the town they wanted to call home. They moved to Chico in 1954. Bill obtained his Real Estate Broker's license and began his career selling agricultural properties. He later added real estate appraising to his business. In 1971, Bill earned the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute and for many years was the only MAI in Northern California. He appraised agricultural and commercial properties and served many times as an expert witness in court cases involving real estate. Bill became part owner and later the sole proprietor of Baywood Company, which he sold in 1984. He was also involved in the ownership of orchards throughout his career. In 1992 he lost his wife, Dawn Murray, after 50 years of marriage and soon after chose to retire. He met and married Joanne Cowdry in 1993. Together they enjoyed life and golf at Butte Creek County Club, traveling and gardening. Bill's passions included a love of animals and nature. Many happy memories for Bill were made in the Army Air Corps, at college, at the Lake Almanor cabin, on the ranchette on Fimple Rd., flying his small airplane, horseback riding to Almanor or on the Comanche Rides, on trips to far away lands and with all his good friends in Chico. Bill is survived by his wife, Joanne; daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Tom Motta; son and daughter-in law, Jeff and Linda Murray; grandsons, Christian Motta and Beau Murray; granddaughters, Jennie Motta Clarke and Tracy Murray, and three great-grandchildren. A private family gathering will be held in Bill's memory. Donations in his name can be made to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, the Diabetes Foundation, the Enloe Hospital Foundation, or to the charity of one's choice, c/o Brusie Funeral Home.