Published in The Goldendale Sentinel, August 6, 1964 pg 5
[Copied from original newspaper by Researcher Ellen Rowley]

Wanda W McMurry

"Memorial services were held Saturday afternoon in the Wishram Community church for Wanda W. McMurry. She was born July 21, 1924 in Waitsburg and passed away in The Dalles hospital July 29 from a long illness.

Mrs. McMurry is survived by her husband John Kenneth McMurry; three children, Mrs. Wanda Lee Smith of Bend, Melody Lynn and John Kenneth Jr. of Wishram; brother, Vale A. Davis of Reno, Nev.; a sister, Mrs. Cora Ann Burril of Wishram; father and stepmother, Elisha and Clara Davis of Wishram; a grandmother, Anna Allen of Big Fork, Mont. And a grandmother, Cora Davis, of White Salmon."




Published in The Goldendale Sentinel, August 13, 1964 pg 6
[Copied from original newspaper by Researcher Ellen Rowley]

Wanda Davis

"She came to Wishram at an early age where she received most of her elementary education. Even as a young girl Mrs. McMurry was community-minded but it was after her marriage and the birth of three children that she began to show her talent for spear-heading local as well as county and state projects. She was past president of Wishram PTA as well as serving on the Klickitat County Parent Teacher Council.

In 1948 she became a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Goldendale. The Vancouver chapter of Beta Sigma Thi submitted her name to the national chapter and she was honored by being named Woman of the Year. In 1958 a local chapter, Delta Tsi, was formed around her. It was largely through her efforts that the Wishram athletic field was obtained. She inaugurated the summer library program at the Wishram school. The landscaping around the post office and the city center playground were other pet interests.

It was learned early that Wanda McMurry could be depended upon to be a driving force in any worthy cause, so she was associated with Cancer and Heart drives; the Red Cross, March of Dimes, and the Bloodmobile. One of Mrs. McMurry’s last acts was to will her eyes to the Eye Bank.

Wanda Davis McMurry passed away July 29 in The Dalles, Ore., of cancer, seven days after her 40th birthday.

Surviving are her husband, John Kenneth McMurry; three children, Wanda Lee Smith of Inglewood, Calif.; Melody Lynn and John Kenneth Jr. of Wishram; a brother, Vale A. Davis, Reno, Nev.; a sister, Cora Ann Burril, Wishram; her father Elisha Davis and step-mother, Clara Davis of Wishram; grandmothers Anna Allen of Big Fork, Mont., and Cora Davis of White Salmon.

Memorial services were held at 4 o’clock in the Wishram Community church August 1, 1964. Rev. Howard Johnson officiated. Cremation was at Portland Memorial in Portland."

(Researcher Note: In the original document, Wanda’s father’s name is spelled Elishia)