Harold Dean Murray, 62
Harold Dean Murray, age 62, passed away March 13, 2024.
Dean was born June 7, 1961, in Ellensburg, Wash., to Madelyn Kay Murray and Robert “Bob” Murray. He was the second of four children and spent most of his youth in the Tri-Cities.
In his 20s, he enlisted in the Army. He graduated from basic training with honors and went on to join the special forces. There, he worked as a member of the Blue Lights, a counter-terrorism unit that would become known as Delta Force. His service allowed him to tour Europe, seeing remarkable sights, including the Sistine Chapel, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum and many others.
Work was always important to Dean. Starting in construction at 16, he worked in an impressive variety of fields throughout his life, from logging to wildland firefighting to being a genuine cowboy to building skyscrapers in Portland, Ore. In recent years, he found fulfillment in working as a direct care provider for clients he cared about.
Outside work, he had a diverse array of passions. He was an avid outdoorsman. From a very young age, he enjoyed hiking, camping, fishing and hunting, and he even bought his own shotgun at the age of 9. He appreciated outdoor sports like golfing and more extreme sports like mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding and longboarding. He loved playing games like Authors and Cribbage with his family and friends and taught his children how to play Dungeons and Dragons.
Beyond the things he did in his life, the most important thing was the person that Dean was. He was loving, kind, down-to-earth and magnetic. People and animals alike were drawn to him and comforted by his presence. Not only was he an incredible father to his children, but to many people who looked to him as a surrogate father. He took joy in helping those in need, regardless of their circumstances.
His loss will be felt by his surviving family — his siblings, Tom Murray, Michelle Murray Holesworth and Robert Murray, his wife and life-partner of 40 years, Bethanne Murray, and his three children, Zach, Talon and JoBeth Murray.
His memorial will be held on the weekend of July 12 and 13. Camping will be available for tents and RV/Camper. No fires permitted. For all details, please reach out to the family. We want to give a special thanks to the Tranfo family for their generosity in hosting the memorial.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to your local animal shelter in Dean’s honor.
Murray