Ellen Shirley Murdoch

Ellen was born 11/30/1923 to Marcel Adrian and Catherine Josephine Oriard, spending her early childhood in Marshall, WA with brothers Hubert and Lewis. Their father owned and operated the Oriard Powder Company. One of the highlights of her childhood was a family trip to Europe aboard the Queen Mary in 1937.

She graduated Holy Names Academy high school here in Spokane in 1941. She then joined the US Navy (Waves) on 10/19/1944 and was honorably discharged on 4/19/1946 as a Pharmacist's Mate Third Class. She later graduated from Holy Names College with her Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1947. She then received a Cello scholarship to Marquette University in Milwaukee where she received her Master’s Degree in 1952. Ellen became a teacher and worked in Othello, WA where she met William L. Murdoch Jr. and they were married 6/23/1956. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was also a committed full-time life-assistant for both of her parents. She later lived at Cathedral Plaza, The Academy, and Royal Park until her passing on Friday February 14, 2020.

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