Donald Ray Murri, 97 of Pasco, Washington, passed away December 7th, 2017.

Donald Ray Murri was born August 28, 1920 to Ellen Johnson Murri and Charles E. Murri in Wilford, Idaho. He was the fifth of 6 living children. He attended elementary school in Wilford and high school at South Fremont High in St. Anthony, Idaho. He grew up helping his dad on the farm in Wilford.

In 1940 he was called on a LDS mission to California/Mexico, Spanish speaking. After his mission he attended BYU where he met and married Verna Mae Lofgreen from Blackfoot, ID. After graduating he and Verna returned to Wilford to farm. In Idaho they had their six children. While farming in Idaho, Don decided to continue his education and earned his teaching certificate. He continued farming in the summers and taught in the winters. He later became a principal at one of the local elementary schools. In 1963 he returned to BYU where he completed his Masters degree in education.

In 1964 Donald and Verna Mae decided to move their family to Pasco, Washington where he continued his profession in education. Don was able to retire early and they bought a second home in Mesa, Arizona and became " snowbirds". They lived the next twenty years spending summers in Pasco and winters in Arizona.

Don was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. He held many church callings and loved the Lord.

Dad taught all his children the value of hard work and the importance of being together as a family. He was a man who cherished his wife and couldn't wait until they could be together again.

We will miss our wise and loving father/grandfather who showed warmth and humor to all who knew him. He is survived by his six children, Evan Murri (Sasa), Cheryl Thackeray (John), Janet Sumner (Stan), Douglas Murri (Debbie), Reed Murri (Ciel) and Marvin Murri (Tammie), thirty-two grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, December 12, 2017, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Mueller's Chapel of the Falls, 314 W. First Ave., Kennewick, WA.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 15th, 2017, 1:00 p.m., at the Wilford LDS Chapel, 215 N. 2400 E., St. Anthony, Idaho.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 12:00 p.m. until 12:45 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Wilford Cemetery under the direction of Bert Flamm Mortuary.