Isa Murray
Isa Maria Drummond Simões Murray passed away March 3, 2025 in Bellevue, Washington after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 78 years old.
A lifelong learner, Isa had many adventures. Born in Salvador, Brazil on May 14, 1946, she left her hometown as a young woman to study comparative literature in Lisbon, Portugal, then to teach for several years at the federal university in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. There she met the lover of her life and fellow adventurer John Richard Murray.
Isa rejoined John in the United States after securing a scholarship for a doctoral degree in comparative literature at Penn State. She completed all but her dissertation there before her work was interrupted by the birth of their daughter, Sandra.
Eventually, John and Isa settled in Massachusetts where Isa taught English as a second language and worked at the Abington Public Library where she freely shared her love of books with co-workers and patrons. Although an avid reader, enthusiastic walker, and flower grower, Isa’s greatest joy was the love and care of her family.
In her last chapter, Isa and John moved to Bellevue, Washington where Isa enjoyed being close to family, gardening, and volunteering.
Isa is survived by her husband John, daughter Sandra and her husband Ian, stepson Paul and his wife Amy, stepson Jason and his wife Yin Cheung, grandchildren Rachel, Elijah, Alysa, Samuel, Octavia, Preston, and Alex, brother Marcelo, sister Diana, and many beloved cousins, nephews, and nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents Helio and Maria Augusta.
A Celebration of Life for Isa will be held Saturday March 22, 2025 at 2pm at Glen Hall in Silver Glen located at 1750 152nd Ave NE, Bellevue, WA. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Isa’s memory to the Friends of the Abington Public Library in Massachusetts or to the ACLU.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.