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Dr. Marian A. Murray

Dr. Marian A. Murray, 85, of Kittanning, PA passed away Tuesday, January, 14 2014 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.

She was born June 17, 1928 in Johnson City, NY, to Thomas W. and Katherine E. (Clugston) Murray.

Marian graduated from Hallstead High School and went on to earn her Bachelor's in Nursing from the former Mansfield State Teachers College. She then received her Master's and Doctorate in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh. Marian worked at Western Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh for several years and was also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. In 1972, she was hired as the first member of the nursing faculty at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was instrumental in developing the curriculum for the department. Marian served as the Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences and was recognized as a Faculty Emerita. She was the first chairperson to write IUP's first self-study to achieve accreditation status from the National League for Nursing.

Marian was dedicated to not only help those locally, but also those abroad. Throughout her career, she spoke at medical conferences around the world, including some in Russia, India and China. Marian had a heart for helping people study nursing and became a generous supporter of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing program's scholarship and the Hahnemann/Community Medical Center Nursing Alumni Trustee Scholarship at Penn State Worthington Scranton. It was through her efforts that she was welcomed into the Penn State President's Club, Circle of Pride, and the Hetzel Circle of the President's Club. She was a member of the United States Nursing Corps and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and was a lifetime member of the Penn State Nurses Association. Marian also served on the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and in Harrisburg as a Nursing Education Advisor, where she retired from in 1992.

Nursing was Marian's passion, but she also enjoyed gardening, cooking and sitting on her porch on a nice day. She was a member of St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and, following her retirement, became very involved with the American Red Cross. The Girl Scouts were another organization with which she was active, serving on the Girl Scout Executive Director Selection Committee, Jurisdictional Review Task Group and the Keystone Tall Tree Girl Scout Council Board of Directors. Marian will be best remembered by her family and friends as being a good and caring person.

She is survived by her brother, Thomas L. Murray, of Kittanning; sisters, Elizabeth Grow, of Narvon, PA, and Katherine Renfer, of Zelienople; nieces, Karen Renfer, of Evans City, and Laura Dederer and husband, Jeff, of Valencia; nephew, Bradley Grow and wife, Patricia, of Ringgold, GA; and many special friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM on Friday, January, 17 2014 at the Bauer Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 515 North McKean Street, Kittanning, PA.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 101 W. High St., Kittanning, with the Reverend Douglas E. Dorula officiating.

Interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, Kittanning, PA.

Contributions may be made in Marian's name to the Marian A. Murray Scholarship Fund (make checks out to the Foundation at IUP with the account designation 630223), 1010 Oakland Ave., Indiana, PA 15701; and for nursing education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 3500 Victoria St., Victoria Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, or the Penn State College of Nursing, 201 Health and Human Development East, University Park, PA 16802.

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