Helen Jane Atkinson Murray Helen Jane Atkinson was born to Clarence and Myrtle Miller Atkinson on January 18, 1932, at the farm home near Butte, NE. She died May 14, 2016 at the age of 84. Her first eight years of schooling were in a one-room country school. When it was time for her junior year of high school, at the age of 14, her parents allowed her to go to Central Academy and Junior College in McPherson, KS. She graduated from high school and remained for two more years to graduate from Junior College at age 18. While in school, she met the love of her life, Orvel Murray. They were married June 13, 1950, at the Atkinson Homestead near Butte. They started married life in Stillwater, OK. In 1952, they moved to Austin, TX and lived in various Texas cities for the next 33 years. During this time, 5 children were born and they led a busy life, always involved at the church wherever they lived. Helens only ambition was to be a wife and mother, but as the family grew it became necessary for her to be gainfully employed. She was offered a temporary job for 30 days with the Department of Agriculture. That job that grew into 34 years of work for the federal government, 22 years in Texas and then 12 more in Oklahoma City. Her walk with the Lord enabled her to raise five children, do many things in the local church and be a faithful employee until her retirement in 1997. She and Orvel were able to take several trips in retirement, then in 2006 he was taken from her after 56 years of marriage. Helen became active in the Warr Acres Senior Center and remained physically active, managing to stay in her home until she died. Helen leaves behind four children: Jerry & Carolyn Murray of Birmingham, AL; Mike & Kathy Murray of Colorado Springs, CO; Randy & Jamie Murray of Oklahoma City, OK; and Connie & Jeff Austin of Dallas, TX. She also leaves seven grandchildren: Jon David & Carla Murray, Bryan & Jenny Murray, Stephanie & Jeremy Weeks, Stacey and Jeremy Reynolds, Nick Murray, Jennifer & Jason Morris, and Tiffany Murray. Seven great grands have blessed her life. Also surviving her are brothers, Gerald & Virginia Atkinson and Marvin & Mary Ellen Atkinson. She was predeceased by both of her parents and a brother, Ronald, who died at age 5. A son, Larry Murray, predeceased her in 1977 at the age of 17, and her husband, Orvel, in 2006 at the age of 75. The family will receive visitors at Mercer-Adams Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 17. Services will be held at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Warr Acres Senior Center by mailing checks to the Salvation Army, Attn: Warr Acres Senior Center, 1001 N. Penn, Oklahoma City, OK 73107. Funeral Service Wednesday, May 18, 2016 10:00 AM Bethany First Church of the Nazarene 6789 N.W. 39th Expressway Bethany, OK 73008