Kathryn Murray

Posted on October 14, 2026

Kathryn Murray, 88, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. She was born on Oct. 12, 1937, to the late Carley and Jewel Zipperer of Jennings, Fla. Throughout her life, Kathryn devoted herself to caring for others and loving her family, her church and her community. For many years, Kathryn worked as a nurse, including at Advent Christian Village and Oakridge Assisted Living. Nursing was more than a career to her; caring for others was simply a part of who she was. Throughout her years in nursing, she touched many lives with her compassion, kindness and dedication. Kathryn was the kind of person who was always willing to help someone in need. Whether it was family, a friend, someone from church or simply someone who needed a helping hand, she was someone you could always depend on. She gave freely of her time and herself and never hesitated to be there when someone needed her. Her caring heart was evident not only through her work as a nurse but in the way she lived her everyday life. Kathryn was a woman of strong Baptist faith and attended Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Mayo. She dearly loved her church and her church family, and especially enjoyed being involved in the WMU (Woman’s Missionary Union). Her faith and her love for serving others were an important part of her life. Kathryn found great joy in the simple things in life, especially her flowers and gardening. She loved tending to her flowers and watching them grow. She also loved to cook and took great pride in teaching her grandchildren how to cook. Through those times together in the kitchen, she passed down much more than recipes – she passed down family traditions, stories and memories that will be treasured for generations. Family was at the heart of Kathryn’s life, and some of the family’s most treasured memories were made around her table. Thanksgiving was always held at Granny’s house, where the whole family would gather together. Her dressing and homemade divinity were family favorites and something everyone looked forward to each year. The food was special, but what mattered most was having the family together in her home. Those Thanksgivings, the laughter around her table and the love that filled her house will always be cherished memories. Being a wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and greatgreat-grandmother brought Kathryn tremendous joy. Her family will always remember the lessons she taught them, the meals she prepared, the flowers she grew, her devotion to her faith, her willingness to help others and most importantly, the love she gave so freely. Kathryn was preceded in death by: her parents, Carley and Jewel Zipperer; her beloved husband, Coleman Murray; daughter, Ellen Roberts; son-in-law, Leroy Roberts; brothers, Gene Zipperer, Bryan “Chipper” Zipperer, Lewis “Bubby” Zipperer and Martin Zipperer; and sisterin-law, Evelyn Zipperer. She is survived by: her grandchildren, Rebecca Eldridge (Dale) and Jessica Payne (Ron); great-grandchildren, Brian Humphries (Sara), Trenton Payne and Grayson Eldridge and great-great-grandchildren, Carter Bailey and Treston Humphries. She is also survived by her siblings, Ira Zipperer, Aveline Brittain (Fred), Michael Zipperer (Katie), Carla Sapp, Dena Pollard (Walt) and Lee Zipperer, as well as many beloved nieces and nephew, extended family members, church family and dear friends. Funeral services were held on Monday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. The family received friends one hour prior to the service. An interment followed after in Riverside Baptist Church Cemetery. All services are under the care of Joe P. Burns Funeral Home of Mayo.