Karen (Young) Murray

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.