Carole Ann Murray, born Feb. 6, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas passed away peacefully in Medford, Oregon on Jan. 8, 2025. Carole Ann spent her early childhood in San Antonio, where she was raised by her grandparents until after WWII. When her father returned home from the war, she went to live with him and her loving stepmother. Carole Ann was delighted when their family grew to welcome a little sister and two baby brothers. Being a military family, they moved often and had many adventures at home and abroad with the family dog (and Carole Ann's best friend), Taffy.

After graduating high school in Germany and working as a civil servant for the U.S. government for a few years, Carole Ann returned to the USA to Virginia where her family was stationed. There she met her husband and started her own family after settling into a position at Parks and Forestry for the City of Norfolk, where she spent most of her career. She loved making a difference and serving her community.

Carole Ann had a gift for writing and a wonderful sense of humor. Her column "All in a Day's Work" drew laughter and echoes of Erma Bombeck. Carole's unique perspective and humor had a way of making everything magical. Her childlike wonder and marvel for humanity inspired all who knew her. She was the sort of woman who made you laugh until you cried.

Carole Ann believed strongly in civil service. In addition to spending her career as a civil servant, she spent countless hours volunteering in her civic league, Little Creek National Little League, Azalea Packers Football League, and her children's schools. After she retired, she volunteered as a poll worker at her local polling place. Carole Ann was a woman you could count on.

Throughout her lifetime, Carole Ann witnessed countless historical touchstones. She was living in Germany when the Berlin Wall went up; saw the Beatles in bars in Europe, and once had lunch with Angela Davis.

Carole Ann loved her family fiercely. Though she reveled in being a mother, her grandkids were the joys of her life. She had a talent for making those who knew her feel loved.

Carole Ann is preceded in death by her father, Hubert Eugene Chaney, stepmother Mary Alice Chaney (Chandler), brother Ernest Chaney, and husband Thomas Murray.

She is survived by her sister Alice Thompson (Lee), brother Jesse Chaney (Elizabeth French), son John Murray (Angela), daughter Alyssa Murray, nieces Allison Thompson, Michelle Thompson, Lindsay Thompson, and Isabella Chaney, grandchildren April Wheeler (Michael), Johnathan Murray (Lucy), Robert Russell, Ashley Nichole Russell, Harmony Birch, Dustin Murray, Drew Murray, Austin Murray (Jessica), River Murray, and Adeline Raymoure, and great grandchildren Alexis, Aurora, Layla, Sean, Kaylee, Penny, Maddie, Ellie, Sklar, Jace, Jonathan, Benjamin and extended family Stephanie Smith, Jacquelyn Boyden, Jenny Murray, Danielle Woodend, and many others.

Memorial Services will be held at 3657 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, Va on 2/18/2025, and in Oregon in the spring of 2025.