Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather, Murray Edwin Woods passed away on July 29, 2024, in Mesa, Arizona. A native Arizonan, Murray was born in Mesa on August 17, 1926, to Vilate Harper and George Tennyson Woods. He had six siblings, George, James, Winifred, Kenneth, Dorothy, and Gordon. All of whom have preceded him in death except Gordon.
Murray attended elementary and secondary school in Tucson, Arizona where the family resided. They returned to Mesa just prior to Murray’s freshman high school year where he attended Mesa High School. He loved attending Mesa High, where he played the saxophone in the school band. He also met the love of his life, Rosalie Nichols during his high school years.
Murray’s high school education was cut short by the outbreak of World War II. He was drafted into the United States Navy in 1944 and left school to serve his country, which he did with honor. Murray’s mother Vilate attended his high school commencement ceremony in May of 1945 and received his graduation diploma from Mesa Superintendent of Schools, Harvey Taylor, on his behalf.
Murray qualified and received training for a Naval signalman. He was training as a signalman when he contracted Rheumatic Fever. He then spent nine months in the Naval Hospital in Dublin, Georgia. When he was finally released, he was deployed on the USS Price for service in the Pacific, but the ship was called back when the Japanese surrendered, and he was soon discharged from military service.
Murray and Rosalie were married June 6, 1947, in the Arizona Temple and spent many happy years together. They raised six children, James Murray, Fred Edwin, Elaine, Steven Lee, Nancy, and Leslie. They enjoyed many wonderful times skiing at Canyon Lake, Lake Powell, San Carlos, Mexico, and the snowy slopes of Purgatory, Colorado. They served in the Mesa Arizona Temple as Ordinance Workers, and, also served as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the New York, Rochester Mission and Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mission. They loved serving the Lord together.
Murray enjoyed building, and his dream was to have his own construction company. He made that dream a reality and he found his niche building gas stations.
After Rosalie passed away in 2014, Murray married Ann Washburn Nichols, who has lovingly cared for him over the past ten years.
Murray lived a balanced life sustained by hard work and hard play. He lived true and faithful to his Father-in-Heaven and his eternal companion, Rosalie.
Murray is survived by his wife Ann, his six children, James Murray (Peggy), Fred Edwin (Debra), Elaine (Ed), Nancy (Matt), Steve (Janet), and Leslie (Darren, deceased and grandson Brendan deceased). Also, by his 26 grandchildren, 77 great grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.
A memorial service for Murray E. Woods will be held on August 8, 2024, at the Menlo Park Ward, 2618 N. Lindsay Road, Mesa, Arizona 85213 at 10:00 a.m. with family visitation from 8:30-9:30 at the building. Interment will follow at the City of Mesa Cemetery.
Service will be broadcast live; Murray Woods’ Funeral: https://youtube.com/@mesaazhermosavistastake3575?si=Zn8UHHUEWpyV-Hv_
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
Thinking about fred and family
Sorry to see this. He was the same age as Tom. Many blessings to you and the family.
Thanks Gary. Miss you.
Good memories of Murray as my boss 45 years ago down on Center Street. He was always so kind & patient! He was a good man & lived a great life! I remember typing Rosie’s life history for her on the office typewriter…it gave me a chance to get to know her & appreciate the good life that she also lived! Great people! My thoughts & condolences at this time for the family! Till we meet again, Murray!
Sincerely, Pam Young
Such a legend. Proud to be among his posterity.
Oh how we love the Woods family! Murray was always full of fun and a friend to all. Please know that your family is in our prayers at this tender time. Love, Elaine Chapman Fort
Thanks Clint. Love you Cuz
Thank you Grandpa for teaching me to work hard & to play hard. Thank you for showing your posterity that you can over come hard things like dyslexia. Thank you for loving Grandma so very much and always putting her first. Thanks for teaching me construction. Thanks for all the good contract rummy games. Thanks for Game 6 of the World Series when Dbacks crushed them Yanks. Thank you for The Campbell, for Purgatory, for San Carlos, for a family that seriously loves being together! Thank you for your love for the scriptures & for the yummy breakfasts where we studied them and then played cards. Thanks for always pulling pranks & being a jokester. Thanks for never sweating the small stuff. Thanks for accepting me no matter what but always trusting that I know who I am & reminding me I’m a beloved daughter of our Heavenly Parents.
Thanks for always being at my basketball games & track meets. I was always the only kid who had their parents, and grandparents support in the stands!
Thank you for your example of love, service, and charity. Thanks for splitting an ice cold Coca-Cola with me & telling me “Old Mesa” stories before you got to go home. Thanks for hanging on so your daughter & son-in-law could see you. You always put us family first. I love you Grandpa & all you taught me.
I love you Grandpa Murray!!!! Thank you for being part of my life and instilling a ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude in me. I am forever grateful to be part of your life and legacy! Please say HELLO to our beautiful G’ma Rosie for me!
Thank you Ann for loving and keeping our grandpa so well. God bless you!
Thank you family for broadcasting live. I will be watching from Sipi Falls, Uganda. Wishing that I was there to see everyone and to give out some hugs. Much love ????
I love you so much, grandpa! Thank you for always being such a kind and loving presence in my life. You showed me what it looks like to love and work hard! Give Rosie a hug for me! ❤️
I learned to water ski behind “Foxy” and couldn’t believe my good fortune when Murray sold it to me for $4,000. So many people “touched” by that lake activity with the Woods family, Rosie’s food, Murray’s boat. Jim called me to go ski in the dead of winter as soon as he returned from his mission. We froze but got up on our first try. What impresses me the most is that at the end of the day on Saturday, Murray would always pull the boat out of the water, wash it down, and tow it home to get ready for the Sabbath and attending to what was most important. God bless Murray Woods. God bless the Woods family.