Freda J. Murray Tucker

Freda J. Murray Tucker, age 91, of Elkhart, Kansas died Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Morton County Hospital in Elkhart, Kansas. She was born August 21, 1925, at home near Elkhart, Kansas, the daughter of Glenn and Susie (Shrauner) Fowler.

Freda grew up in Elkhart and graduated from Elkhart High School. She married John Hershal Murray on March 25, 1945, in Elkhart. John worked for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline. This provided them the opportunity to live in Elkhart, Hugoton, and Alva, Oklahoma. Freda and John then owned and operated a dairy farm in Wellington, Kansas. They enjoyed square dancing and camping. After they retired from the dairy, they became avid campers and belonged to camping clubs. John died in 2005 from complications with Alzheimer’s. Freda then returned to Elkhart and married Carl Dean Tucker in 2007. He preceded her in death in 2014. Freda then moved to Morton County Assisted Living. She enjoyed working in her flower gardens, interior decorating, and was an avid reader. Freda’s family was very important to her. The first thing she asked her son or daughter when she called them was how her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were and what was going on in their lives. Freda was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Elkhart, and attended the United Methodist Church in Elkhart.

Survivors include her son, John Murray and wife Mary of Wellington, Kansas; daughter, Brenda Erker and husband Ed of West End, North Carolina; daughter-in-law, Jeannie Murray and husband Rod Lewellen of Wellington, Kansas; 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Freda is preceded in death by her parents; husbands; son, William Russell Murray; granddaughter, Nevaeh Erker; and brothers, Keith Fowler, Kenneth Fowler, and Lynn Fowler.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, April 17, 2017, at the United Methodist Church in Elkhart, Kansas with Pastor Shella Choi officiating. Interment will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart. Friends may call Saturday, April 15, 2017, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart, Kansas. The family requests memorials may be given to Alzheimer’s Association in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.