Visitation:
202 W. Maple Street Willard OH 44890 9/24/2015 14:00:00
Service:
202 W. Maple Street Willard OH 44890 9/25/2015 11:00:00
Jean M. (Fitzwater) Murray, age 61, went home to the Lord’s House and her parent’s arms on Sunday, September 20, 2015. She had been a patient at Stein Hospice in Sandusky.
She was born on June 9, 1954 in Medina to Raymond and Irene (Ritch)Fitzwater of Peninsula. Jean and her identical twin sister, Jane, were baptized at the Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Peninsula on July 4, 1954. Her family lived in West Richfield before moving to Newark, Delaware. Her father’s promotion brought the family to Willard in 1966. Jean is a 1972 graduate of Willard High School and a 1979 graduate of the
Willard Police Academy. She was a police officer with her husband on the Wakeman Police Department and the Greenwich Police Department. She found her passion in photography and journalism as a correspondent for the Willard Times-Junction. Jean was awarded an Osman Hooper Award for news photography in 2013 from the Ohio Newspaper Association. As a civilian photographer for the Ohio Army National Guard, Camp Perry and Fort Ohio, she worked with soldiers. Jean was a member of the M1 for Vets Rifle Team. As a result of her work with the military, she was awarded the
Distinguished Service Medal from the U.S. Army which is the highest award a civilian can receive. In 2013, Jean was made an Honorary Firefighter with the Willard Fire Department. She is a member of the American Legion Riders and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Jean is survived by her husband of 40 years, Donald Murray whom she married on St. Valentine’s Day in 1975; her sons, Donald Eugene II (Geri) of Columbus and Daniel Ray (Heather) of Willard; her identical twin sister Jane (Ed) Ernsberger of Shelby; brothers Raymond “Dutch” (Lauri) Fitzwater of Willard and Lee (Deborah) Fitzwater of Tallmadge; nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents Joseph and Marietta (D’Angelo) Ritch and Raymond and Grace (Jansick) Fitzwater.
Friends may call at the Secor Funeral Home in Willard, Ohio on Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11:00 at the funeral home with Pastor Thomas Blair officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Willard. The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Willard Fire Department. Online condolences can be made at www.secorfuneralhomes.com
Condolences
May the Lord comfort all the family ! We all lost a treasure and a warm hearted lady ! God bless you and keep you !
Thank you for your friendship. Your love. Your absolute devotion for those that serve our Nation. Bit most of all, thanks for letting me call you my dear friend. JJ OShea
So sorry for your loss. Jean was a wonderful person and always had a smile on her face. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
So sorry for your loss. Jean was a wonderful person and always had a smile on her face. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Sending love and prayers to the family. Jean was a special lady. You were always there for her and made her leaving as easy as possible. I know she will be watching over you.
You all know how special Jean was to our Fire Department. In life she was our guardian, making sure we were always represented in a positive way. In death she is still our guardian angel. I am sure she is still watching over all of us, making sure we stay safe. God Bless and always know that Jean will have a special place in our hearts.
Joe
I loved Jean as a very good friend. We were friends ==very close ones–especially from 2006 to 2009. We went to ball games–she went to my children’s activities. She was a selfless, wonderful person. She always said I was a wondrful teacher, mother, and friend. There is no one like Jean in the world –I thought she was great! May she rest in peace.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of your loss. Lean on the Lord for His strength to get you through these tough days. In God’s Love,
I wish to express my sympathy at this time of great sadness.
Peace,
Don
From all the staff at Twilight Gardens, we are wishing you a day of special moments in this time of sorrow and treasured memories to lift you up.
so sorry to hear of the passing of jean, she was a great asset to the american legion riders and a great friend. she will be dearly missed. i know she will be a passenger in heaven watching over us and continuing to take pictures of us.
ride in peace jean
So sorry for your lost,Your family are in my thoughts and prayers.