Ruth Ann Murray, beloved and generous aunt, sister, daughter, niece, friend and lover of "critters," passed away on July 10, 2022. A lifelong resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ruth Ann was born on Nov. 2, 1933, the oldest child of George Hartnett Murray, Sr., and Maude Saffle Murray. She was followed by four younger brothers: George H., Jr., Dr. James Andrew, Gregory Saffle and Paul Fletcher.
Favorite parts of her childhood included visiting her Saffle grandparents' farm in Chandler, Oklahoma, and summers at the Ozark Club in Spavinaw.
The Catholic faith was a constant in her life: She went to Marquette Catholic School and graduated from Monte Cassino School instudied at the University of Tulsa and University of Oklahoma, graduating with a B.A. from OU in 1955.
She traveled Europe before working at Warren Petroleum for many years. In the 1970s she co-owned, with her brother George, an early word processing retail business called Advanced Business Systems. Ruth Ann was beloved to her family and friends for her generosity, dignity and grace; caring for others; storytelling, sense of fun; love of sweets; a trademark phrase, "bless your heart"; and deep connection to the animal world, taking in all stray animals. Her brothers remember her as always being there for them throughout their lives. She was devoted to her Tennessee Walking horse, Lady, winning many ribbons, who was in her life from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s.
Ruth Ann is survived by brothers Gregory Saffle Murray of Garden Grove, Calif., and Paul Fletcher Murray of Bandon, Oregon; brothers Jim and George are deceased. The family is grateful to Ruth Ann's dear friend Altha Ross for all the care and support she provided Ruth Ann in the last year of her life.