Rosemary Margaret Murray

Multifaceted Long Beach resident stayed involved all her life.

LONG BEACH — "Semper Fi" was more than just a motto for U.S. Marine Rosemary Murray, because she was "Always Faithful." She was faithful to her family, her God, her career and her country.

"My mom was a very decent person," said her son John Murray. "She was proud to be a native Californian, proud to be a Marine, a mother and a Catholic."

Rosemary died June 2. She was 87.

Born in Los Angeles in 1924, Rosemary spent most of her life in California.

She became a Marine during World War II. She met her husband, John (Jack) Murray in 1944 while they were both stationed in Norman, Oklahoma.

"She was always a Marine, proud to be so and dedicated to the standards and values of the Corps." said her son.

After they married they moved back to California and to Long Beach in 1948.

They purchased a new home on a dirt road, known today as Palo Verde Avenue, and lived across from a bean field which today is Millikan High. There they raised five children.

Rosemary worked at Douglas Aircraft during the Vietnam War as a hydraulics installer on A-4 Fighter Jets and was still a proud member of the UAW Local 148, her family said.

She had a varied and fulfilling public life, and was a strong believer in unions, workers and civil rights, said her son.

She was involved in many social groups, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Women Marines Association and the Women's Democratic Study Group.

"These groups are what she did in her free time," John Murray said.

Rosemary never stopped. After her last child finished high school, she enrolled at Long Beach City College where she studied nursing. She became a licensed vocational nurse and spent 15 years nursing in the oncology unit at Long Beach Community Hospital.

Rosemary was also very committed to her church, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, of which her family were founding members.

She was a very social person and had friendships that were maintained from kindergarten throughout her life, her son said.

"She always enjoyed a good visit or conversation, lunch with the nurses, celebrations with the Marines, meetings with the Democrats, discussing local and national history, nursing, politics, and medicine, as well as her treasured family," he said.

According to her family, Rosemary was always smiling, always positive, a was a happy and kind person.

"I will miss her joy of living and her overall happiness and love for all," said John.

After 48 years of marriage, her husband died in 1993. Rosemary is survived by her children, Fran Murphy, Pat Murray (Corinne), Monica Herron (John), John Murray Jr. (Cindy), and Margaret Trillaud (Alain), and she was a dedicated and loving grandmother to Alisia Murray, Collin and Johnny Herron, Alana and Patrick Murray, and step-grandchildren Floriane and Jo Trillaud, and Javier Fernandez and Kate and Lauren Proctor.

Services will be Tuesday, June 7, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 6200 E. Willow St., Long Beach.

Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary (562) 425-6401

www.luybenfamilyd-m.com