Sondra J. Murray

Sondra J. Murray, 72, passed away peacefully in her home on May 18, 2018. She was born October 20, 1945 in Joplin, MO., the daughter of Charles and Faye Wheeler Murray.

She graduated from Joplin (MO) High School 1963. She received her RN diploma from Saint John's School of Nursing (Springfield, MO), received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Washburn University (Topeka, KS) and her Master of Psychiatric Nursing graduate degree from theUniversity of Kansas (Lawrence, KS) where she also studied shamanism as it relates to health care. She worked as a psychiatry nurse at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis before moving to Topeka in 1974 to work at the Menninger Foundation. She retired from the Menninger Foundation as night supervisor in 2001 and remained close friends with many of her colleagues. She was proceeded in her death by her brother Richard Kelly of Los Angeles (CA). She is survived by her family: Susan Etzel of Topeka (KS), Carrie and Dennis Etzel Jr. of Topeka (KS), and DeAnn and Tom Akins of Durham (NC), and grandsons Asmund, Wystan, Raedan, Aldwyn and Eldric Etzel. Other survivors include her cousins Ron (Twilla) Wheeler of Web City (MO) and Larry Wheeler of Granby (MO). She is also survived by Gaby, her dog, and faithful friend of 14 years.

Sondra was an avid tennis player. As well, she enjoyed playing golf, making impossible shots while holding the club the way she wanted. She listened to opera on full volume. With her love for nature, she found happiness in creating spectacular gardens to be enjoyed by her family, friends, and neighbors. Sondra and Susan enjoyed yearly trips to Colorado seeking out wildlife and other adventures. Sondra spent her life collecting treasures including a room dedicated to her seashells and fossils, ornaments for every holiday to be placed on a tree that could be seen year-round, books to feed her intellectual drive and her signature hat collection which provided for every occasion. The most precious collection were friendships both new and old.

A celebration of life and Irish Wake will be at 2pm, Saturday, June 2 at the Pepper Tree Club House (SW Pepper Tree Lane and Burlingame Road, Topeka). Memorial contributions may be made to KTWU public television (KTWU Public Television, Washburn University, 1700 SW College Ave, Topeka, KS 66621 or www.ktwu.org).