Category: Obituary: M

Christine G. Mitchell, 77, spouse of Reverend James B. (Brad) Mitchell, died on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, at her home in Brunswick ME. She was born Feb. 5, 1940, the daughter of Paul P. and Elinor (Jackson) Johnson.

She graduated from Stoughton High School in 1957, then completed a two-year course in retailing from Modern School of Fashion and Design. She earned a B.A. degree from Northeastern University in 1964, then entered St. Lawrence Theological School, completing a master’s degree in religious education at Crane Theology School of Tufts University in 1966.

Christine and Brad were married Sept. 9, 1966.

She worked in retail at R. H. Stearns Department Store in Boston, and for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in Washington, D.C. She was a librarian, first at Wessell Library of Tufts University, and later in Lisbon Falls, Maine, where she remained for 19 years. She also worked as a homemaker and ran her own child care business.

She was a lifelong member of Universalist churches, and most recently of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick. She sang in church choirs, taught religious education classes, and served on an Earth Care committee of the church. She also belonged to food cooperatives, a Brunswick book club, a memoir-writing group. She was a voracious reader.

A mother of two, she enjoyed parenting, being a grandparent, nature, gardening, and writing her memoirs.

Surviving her is her husband of 51 years, the Rev. James B. Mitchell, Minister Emeritus of the U. U. Church of Brunswick; a daughter, Rebecca Mitchell, and partner Luke Gottlieb, of Richmond, Calif.; a son, Ian Mitchell, of Brunswick; a grandson, Sebastian Mitchell, of Richmond, Calif.; three sisters, Priscilla Noyes, of Trenton, Maine; Virginia Miller, of Santa Fe, N.M.; and Linda Weaver, of Fort Collins, Colo.; two brothers, Paul P. Johnson, of Monmouth; and David M. Johnson, of Cape Cod, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick at a later date.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at: www.FuneralAlternatives.net.

Memorial donations may be made to the church at 1 Middle St., Brunswick, ME 04011.

The Reverend Don McKinney—longtime parish minister, lifelong advocate for civil rights, humanitarian causes, death with dignity, and racial justice—died on 1 October 2017, aged 90.

In the late 1960s the Rev’d Mr. McKinney served as co-chair (with David Parke) of FULLBAC (Full Recognition and Funding of the Black Affairs Council) and his Brooklyn church housed the FULLBAC headquarters.

He recalled the vote of the 1968 Cleveland General Assembly to fund BAC at $1 million as “the single most wonderful moment in my professional life.” After that funding was reduced, Don led his Brooklyn church as the first of six UU congregations to withhold their contributions to the UUA in protest, saying, “If we hope to save our denomination from destroying itself and its historic new thrust in the racial crisis we must act, and act now.”

Donald William McKinney was born 9 June 1927 in Manchester, New Hampshire, to Victoria R. and William L. McKinney. He grew up active in religious education and youth groups at the First Congregational Society, Unitarian (now UU), of Bridgewater, MA, during his father’s long pastorate there (1927–57). After a year in the U.S. Army, Don earned a B.A. in Social Relations at Harvard College in 1949 and an S.T.B. from Harvard Divinity School in 1952, and was forthwith ordained by his home congregation on 8 June 1952.

The Rev’d Mr. McKinney served the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, NY, for 40 years (1952–92). On retirement the congregation named him Minister Emeritus. A smaller worship and social space, adjacent to the church’s main sanctuary, is now named the Donald W. McKinney Chapel.

At the time of Don’s death, survivors included his spouse of over 60 years, Julie L. McKinney, children Bruce B. McKinney of San Francisco and Barbara McKinney Sow of Yaoundé, Cameroon (grandchildren Omar and Adama Sow).

Betty Carolyn Murdock died September 7, 2017, in Tulsa OK. The widow of the Reverend Dr. Virgil Murdock, she was 88 years old. Betty grew up in Hartshorne, OK where her parents, the late Elmer and Juanita Thrower, owned and published the Hartshorne Sun.

After high school, she attended Phillips University in Enid and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA degree in journalism. She worked as a reporter for The Daily Oklahoman and the Oklahoma City Times.

In 1955, she and her husband moved to Cambridge, MA where he attended Harvard Divinity School. They remained in Massachusetts, where he served a congregation for a few years, then became the Executive Director of the Benevolent Fraternity of Unitarian Churches. Betty was active in a number of charitable organizations in Massachusetts. After they retired to Tulsa in 1986, she was a Gillie at the Gilcrease Museum.

Survivors include her daughter, Lisa Carolyn Ake, and her husband Tracy Ake, of Bristow, VA; grandchildren, Hayley Ake, Hannah Ake, and Sam Ake; a sister, Janice Elliott of Nashville, TN; and a brother, Frank Thrower of Dallas, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in her name to All Souls Unitarian Church.

Messages of condolence may be sent to Lisa Murdock Ake, 9346 Angel Falls St., Bristow, VA  20136

The Reverend Dr. William R. Murry, Minister Emeritus of the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Bethesda, MD, and former President of Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, died July 6, 2017.

During his 17 year tenure at River Road, Bill Murry had a strong pulpit ministry with a major emphasis on social responsibility. The membership nearly doubled in size and their community service and social justice work increased considerably. In his seven years as President and Academic Dean of the Chicago seminary, Bill led in the growth and revitalization of that graduate professional school affiliated with the University of Chicago and the Unitarian Universalist Association. He appointed six new faculty members, expanded the curriculum and saw the student body increase from 60 to 115 students.

He was the author of numerous articles and three books including: A Faith for All Seasons: Liberal Religion and the Crises of Life, in which he presents liberal religious perspectives on the question of life’s meaning, the problems of pain and suffering, loss and grief, and death and Dying; Reason and Reverence: Religious Humanism for the 21st Century, which articulates a humanism grounded in religious naturalism and responds to some criticisms of humanism; and Becoming More Fully Human: Religious Humanism as a Way of Life, which treats humanism as both a philosophy and a way of living with joy and responsibility.

His work for the Unitarian Universalist Association included serving three years as Chair of the planning committee of the National Social Justice Workshop, six years as Ministerial Settlement Representative for the Joseph Priestley District, and President of the Chesapeake chapter of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association.

Bill was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1932. He held a B.A. from Oklahoma Baptist University, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Theology and Culture from Drew University. He began his career as a Baptist pastor in Shelton, Connecticut, then accepted a joint appointment as University Minister at The Riverside Church and as the Campus Minister at Columbia University in New York City. Bill served from 1967 to 1970 as Chaplain and Assistant Professor of Religion at Goucher College in Towson, MD, and from 1970 to 1974 he was Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

Bill became a Unitarian Universalist minister in 1977, and was called to the UU Church of Bloomington, Indiana, where he served on the Board of Planned Parenthood and helped to start hospice in that city. In 1980, he was called to the River Road Congregation in Bethesda where he also became active in affordable housing work. He was a founding member and first board chair of the Montgomery (County, MD) Housing Partnership, and also helped found the Unitarian Universalist Affordable Housing Corporation, which continues to serve the D.C. area. In 1995, he was recognized for his work in affordable housing by the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission.

After retiring from the Presidency of the Meadville Lombard seminary he continued his writing, speaking engagements and service as a board member of the UU Humanist Association. While living in Annapolis MD, he was a founding board member of the UU Legislative Ministry of Maryland and in 2012 was honored with the first “Creative Sage-ing Award” by the UU Retired Ministers and Partners Association. More recently he co-edited the anthology Humanist Voices in Unitarian Universalism.

At the 2017 UU General Assembly in New Orleans, the UU Humanist Association honored him as the first recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award “for extraordinary contributions to Religious Humanism and Unitarian Universalism.” Bill Murry was an inspiring teacher and mentor to a great many members of the UU clergy as well as countless laypersons and professed humanists across the country. The influence of his powerful sermons, lectures and books will continue to enrich and enlighten many.

Phyllis M. McKeeman, widow of the Reverend Dr. Gordon B. McKeeman passed away peacefully on January 7, 2017 at the age of 93. She was born on August 7, 1923 in Swampscott, MA. to Charles F. and Edith (Pedrick) Bradstreet. Phyllis was a fourth-generation Universalist and met her future husband, Gordon B. McKeeman, at the Universalist Church youth group in Lynn, MA. She and Gordon were married in Lynn on Nov. 5, 1944. He became a Universalist minister, and then a Unitarian-Universalist (UU) minister and together they served four churches in Massachusetts and Ohio. From 1983 to 1988 they lived in California as Gordon served as President of Starr King School for the Ministry.

Phyllis fulfilled a variety of church roles wherever they happened to be living. She served on the merger committee for the Universalist and Unitarian Women’s organizations and on the first Board of the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation. She was office secretary and then coordinator of the Ohio-Meadville District of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) from 1965–1983. Part of that time she was also Chair of Region II for the UUA Annual Program Fund. Phyllis was awarded the UU Unsung Award by Ohio-Meadville District in 1976. She and Gordon were presented the UUA Award for Distinguished Service in 1993.

Although they raised three boys, Phyllis had grown up in Girl Scouting and became an active leader and trainer/consultant in the Girl Scouts and received the Thanks Badge award. She loved the outdoors and spent many years camping with the family. She also enjoyed knitting and playing cribbage.

She and Gordon retired to Charlottesville, VA in 1988 and moved to Rochester, MN in 2010. They were married for 69 years at the time of Gordon’s death in 2013.

Phyllis is survived by her three sons: Bruce, Glenn, and Randall; four grandchildren: Jennifer (Colin) Clark, Neil McKeeman, Alanna McKeeman, and Leland McKeeman; a great-grandchild, Sean Clark; and her sister-in law, Gloria King.

Memorials are suggested to the Unitarian Universalist Association; Girl Scouts of America; or the Alzheimer’s Association. Notes of condolence may be sent to Randall at his email address: rsmckeeman@hotmail.com

Gary Thomas Murphy, 60, husband of the Rev. Suzanne Trappe Black, died Dec. 30, 2010, the day before his 61st birthday. He had had recurrent heart problems and finally succumbed to congestive heart failure. Gary and Suzanne were married August 12, 2000 by the Rev. Karen Stoyanoff, who also officiated at Gary’s memorial service. Gary will be remembered for his love of the desert and his interest in growing plants. He also was good with animals and enjoyed his model train set. The couple called themselves “snowbirds” and enjoyed traveling. He is survived by his wife; his mother, June Murphy; his sisters, Pat Walker and Sue Hicks and by many beloved nieces and nephews and by a great-niece and great-nephew.

The Rev. Keith C. Munson, 85, died Feb. 5, 2008 in Bradenton, FL. Marguerite “Peggy” Hanson Munson died Feb. 1, 2008 in Swampscott, MA, the day before their 63rd wedding anniversary. Peggy had been suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. The Munsons served congregations in Annisquam, Palmer, Springfield, and Andover, MA; Cherry Hill, NJ; and Quincy, MA. Keith and Peggy hosted Gov. and Mrs. Michael Dukakis and the Adams family at the Bicentennial Celebration there in 1976. In 1983, Quincy awarded Keith a plaque for his services to the community. When he retired Keith was made an Honorary Citizen of Quincy and minister emeritus at the Quincy church. He was a board member of UURMaPA for eight years, and President for four. Avid sailors, the Munsons sailed from Maine to Florida and back again on Keith’s beloved “Galatea,” a 36-foot Pearson Pilothouse. They were members of the UU Church of Saco and Biddeford, ME, and owned a house at Ferry Beach. Survivors include Carolyn (Lynn) Cashman of Cork, Ireland; a son, Bruce Munson, of Beverly, MA, and six grandchildren. A service was held to honor Keith and Peggy August 3 at Ferry Beach in Saco.

The Rev. Walter Andrew Moulton, 70, died Nov. 5, 2006, in Kennebunk, ME. He served in the Navy, then taught at Kennebunk High School for 22 years. He then completed his M.Div, and was ordained in 1987. He served in Beaumont TX, where his congregation established an AIDS Care Team. He then served interims in Fredericton, NB.; Houlton, ME; Groton MA; Philadelphia, PA; and Kirkland, OH. In 1998 he was called to All Souls UU in Watertown, NY, retiring in 2003, and returning to Kennebunk. Walter read and wrote poetry, published several poems in the York County Coast Star in Kennebunk, and collected old-time gospel tapes. He is survived by his his wife of 47 years, Paula Thayer-Moulton; and two daughters, Valerie Berg of Vienna, VA, and Barbara Moulton of San Francisco, and five grandchildren.

The Rev. Herbert Carlton Moore, Jr. died on February 19, 2015, at the age of 80.

He is survived by his daughter, Emily C. Minihane (James), Rebecca M. Raymond (David), and Meredith M. Owens (James); sister, Carol MacLennan; and grandchildren, Lillian, Charlotte , Madeleine, John, Lydia, Alice, Cole and Mason. He is predeceased by his wife Camilla C .Moore; and son, Warren C. Moore.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday, February 24th at 11:00 A.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp St., Norton, MA 02766.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Herbert are encouraged to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215 or to Daggett Crandall Newcomb Home, 55 Newland St. Norton, MA 02766.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Mrs. Emily Minihane, 15 Vine Street, Franklin, MA 02038.

[A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.]

Camilla Chickering Moore, 63, wife of the Rev. H. Carlton Moore, died Dec. 11, 2004. In 1963, she joined the Peace Corps, and taught ESL in Ethiopia two years. She taught fifth grade in Acton, MA, before rearing her family, and later taught special education in Foxboro, MA. At Doolittle Home in Foxboro, she served as activities director before retiring in January 2005 due to illness. She was a member of the Unitarian Church in Norton, and its parish committee. She is survived by her husband; three daughters, Emily C. Minihane of Delaware; Rebecca M. Raymond, Franklin, MA; and Meredith M. Owens of North Attleboro; a sister, Morgan Chickering of Brookline, MA ; and two grandchildren.