Upon a much belated visit to The Laramie Project Online Community I found this piece of sad news posted by company member Tiffany Redmon on April 19, 2011:
Marjorie Murray – 9/2/1935- 3/12/2011
Marge Murray passed away around 11:30pm on Saturday, March 12th 2011 in Laramie, Wyoming. Marge was surrounded by children Reggie, Robin, Mike, and other family members and loved ones. Tectonic Theater Project company member, Greg Pierotti, was also with Marge and her family at the time of her passing. Greg immediately informed the rest of the members of Tectonic Theater Project and I would like to share the end of his email:
“I guess rather than go on trying to do justice to the events of this evening, it would be more fitting to close with a spiritual thought from Marge herself, which I think really says it all:”
“Uhh, (long pause), we’re all God’s children, and He don’t care what we’re doin’. Uh, you know I have had three husbands and a couple of ‘fairs for Chris’sake. And they’ve had to accept me.”
I would like to encourage any of you who have been touched by Marge, at some point in your life, to share your stories or thoughts here on The Laramie Online Community.
We love you, Marge! May you live on in the hearts and memories of those you’ve touched.
I was able to find this obituary in The Laramie Boomerang (thanks to the database America’s Newspapers) for March 16, 2011.
Marjorie L. (Coulthard) Murray
Marjorie L. (Coulthard) Murray, our loving mother, went to be with our Lord on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at Ivinson Memorial Hospital after a long battle with COPD. She was 75 years old and was surrounded by her devoted children and grandchildren.
She was born Sept. 2, 1935, and lived much of her life in Laramie. She was able to travel in her earlier years to Japan and developed a love for the orient. She also spent time in Mexico, Nebraska, Chicago and California before moving back to Laramie and settling for the remainder of her life. She was well known for being outspoken, for her kindness and her love of family. She had the ability to make even a stranger feel like family. She was also known for her quick wit and being right to the point. She worked in the service industry her entire life until she retired at age 66.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Minnie Moneypenny; a son, George Coulthard; a daughter, Debbie Bunn; and two grandsons, Jason and Jacob Prahl.
She is survived by two sisters, Alice Erickson, of Arizona City, Ariz., and Vicky Harriman, of Ocala, Fla.; her children, Becky Bunn, of Wasilla, Marjorie L. (Coulthard) Murray Alaska, Robin Coulthard, Reggie Fluty (Mike), Max Coulthard (Lori), all of Laramie, Joe Buescher (Lisa), of Littleton, Colo., Rex Coulthard (Noelle) of Decano, Colo.; several grandchildren, Tashina Lemons, Cassidy Prahl, Danielle Prahl, Dillon, Travis, Sierra and Tiana Gilster, Hannah, Jacob, Benjamin and Joey Buescher, Kara, Kristi, Katie and David Coulthard; and several greatgrandchildren and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday at Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home with inurnment following in Green Hill Cemetery. A reception will follow at 3 p.m. at the American Legion. Services are under the direction of Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home.
To send condolences or sign the online guest book, go to www.montgomery stryker.com.
DukeinLaramie students if you want to compose a “memory” or message about Marge I’m happy to post it on your behalf on The Laramie Online Community.
I am currently a student at Booker t. Washington High School for the Preforming and Visual Arts in Dallas tx. I remember hearing the News story about Matthew but didnt give much thought to the actual history behind it until now. Our wonderful theatre department is going to preform The Laramie Project as our fall show production.
Not until our director told us to do research on these actual people i then realized how amazing these people really are and how calm and collected they all remained while their whole town was going through hell.
I just wanted to say thank you for contributing to telling this story and all our love goes out to y’all
-Francesca G
I live in New Zealand I am 17 years old and my drama class is doing The Laramie Project for our class play. I am playing Reggie Fluty and it is really sad to read that Marge Murray died last year, I give the family my deepest sympathies and I will play the role of Reggie Fluty with all my heart and sole for Reggie Fluty and Marge Murray thank you all of Laramie for being such great people and so inspirational. I would believe my whole class would say the same thing.