Obituary for Hazel Mina Murdock “Mom” to Bonnie, Shari, Ardie, Dave and Joe while “Gram” or “Grammie” to so many others, passed away after living 106+ years. What an amazing woman! Born in Conde, S.D. on February 26, 1912 to John and Priscilla Hoien.
She was raised with her siblings, Clifford, Eunice and Grace. In high school she was smitten by Lyle Overby and the two fell in love and were married in 1934. Both had started off preparing to be teachers and they did this for some years in South Dakota.
But when moving in the early 40’s to Oregon because of the depression and some relatives who had already moved to the state, she took on substituting for Portland Public Schools plus raising Bonnie, Sharon, Ardon and David. All the time, the family was very active at the St. Johns Wesleyan Methodist church with mom often teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir. In the early-70’s they moved to S.W. Portland and began attending Beaverton Nazarene.
Back in South Dakota as a child she had received Jesus as Savior and this was paramount always in her life. During the time her son, Ardie, was going to Portland State University mom decided that she go back to school and gain full accreditation for teaching. In that one year she took 76 credit hours and completed her four-year degree in 1963, graduating Cum Laude.
Shortly after this she obtained employment as a teacher for Portland Public Schools where she taught for many years at Portsmouth and Kenton Elementary Schools. Lyle passed away in 1976 and during the next eight years her daughter Sharon died, as well as three of her grandchildren and a great-grandchild. She has always been a strong woman, bent, but not broken.
In 1982 she and Wally Murdock tied the knot and were married for 23 years. The Murdock kids, Joe, Janet and Terry were welcomed into her family. Wally passed away in 2005.
Mom continued to be active for several years at Beaverton Nazarene. Sadly, after a short illness, her son, Ardie, died in 2014. Amazingly alert, living at home, reading her KINDLE, loving the visits from friends and family, watching the birds and squirrels, writing lots of letters and being an encouraging prayer warrior all brought her much contentment.
She had told us that she wanted to be remembered as a godly, fun loving woman. But not so godly that she couldn’t have fun. She was preceded in death by many including her husbands Lyle Overby and Wally Murdock, daughter Sharon Boddington, son Ardon Overby, son-in-law Rex Lapp, grandchildren Nathan, Aaron, and Andrew Overby, great-granddaughter Tasha Lapp and step-son Terry Murdock.
Her remaining family is made up of Bonnie Lapp, Dave (Diane) Overby, Joe (Jan) Murdock, Janet (Henry) Goinski and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. A memorial will be held at Beaverton Nazarene Church on June 29th at 1 p.m. Donations may be given in her memory to the Oregon Chapter of Prison Fellowship or Beaverton Nazarene Children’s Ministries. Upcoming Events Memorial 2018 JUN 29.
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