Obit of Ritter-Murray, Jean - Ottawa County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 04 Oct 2009 Return to Ottawa County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/ottawa/ottawa.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::NOT LISTED Santa Rosa Press Democrat Published on November 3, 1998 JEAN RITTER-MURRAY Jean Ritter-Murray, a writer, musician and social activist, died Friday at her home in Sebastopol. She was 75. She and her husband, retired Col. Robert R. Murray, lived in Oakmont for more than 25 years before they moved to their daughter's Sebastopol home in July. She served on the Sonoma County Task Force for the Homeless, she was active in the Peace and Justice Center and was a member of the League of Women Voters. During her residence in Oakmont, she was project director of the Sunday Symposium, a forum for discussions and presentations, and she was chairwoman of the Oakmont Book Review Club. She was a Unitarian for 50 years. Her family said she loved to write stories, poetry and screenplays. She was a member of the Western Literature Association and the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment. She was also an accomplished pianist who played the cello as well. "Our grandmother was incredibly strong and challenged your mind," said granddaughter Antonia Jean Bello. "She really believed you should tell yourself, `I can, I will, I did."' She was born in Miami, Okla., and lived in Texas before moving to Monterey County in 1960. She attended the University of Tulsa, University of California at Santa Cruz, and Sonoma State University. While in Monterey County, she was instrumental in establishing the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation in Carmel and served as its board president. Her family said she believed that meditation, yoga, music and poetry were the key elements to enjoying a good life. In addition to her husband, she also is survived by her children, Margaret Diane Stefani of Sebastopol, Michael L. Ritter of Windsor, and Robert R. Ritter of Point Reyes; stepdaughter, Teri Miller; four grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. At her request, there will be no services. The family suggests contributions to the Sunday Symposium of Oakmont or Sonoma County Task Force for the Homeless or Spectrum Hospice. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Ottawa County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/ottawa/ottawa.html