With deep sadness we announce that we have received word that Ina Mae Murri passed away this weekend in Ogden, Utah, following an automobile accident. Her partner, Stella, remains hospitalized in Ogden. Ina Mae led Affirmation in 1986, and was a great inspiration to many of us in Affirmation. She was recipient of the Mortensen Award in 1989.
We will have more information and a tribute to Ina Mae online later this week.
Sincerely,
David Melson
Executive Director
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons
This is a great loss. Many women in this world looked to both of them for courage and comfort. I looked forward to their visits in Idaho. Much Love to both of their families.
The local press in Idaho are reporting that Stella also passed away. Can anyone confirm this?
I am Ina Mae’s nephew.
Stella was Lifeflghted to Ogden Regional Hospital, where she later died around noon of Saturday, July 17th. My father came up from SLC to identify her for the authorities.
They were often the life of our family reunions with their positive outlook and I admired them. They will be missed.
I thank you for your kind thoughts and love.
Rodney L. Murri
I would like to inform you that Stella has passed away as well. Their families are having the sevices in California, at Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward, CA. The date has not been set, we were at the funeral home this morning but are still awaiting STINA’s arrival back from Idaho.
Check with friends and family for exact time and dates.
For those of you in Idaho-Utah area, we are trying to coordinate a service in Idaho before they head back to California to help with those living in that area.
Bless you all.
Kevin
Kevin,
I am married to Gordon, one of Vera’s sons. I am visiting in NM and will not return to home, Reno, NV, until the 31st. Have plans been made for the services in CA? Gordon is interested in attending if it is at all possible. Please email me with the information so he can make plans.
Ina Mae and Stella stopped to see us a couple of times on their way to the Murri reunion. Sadly, we have only attended one of these events, and they definitely were a hoot to visit with. I wish I had known them better. I do know they will be greatly missed by MANY people.
Hi, I am Stella’s daughter. I have misplaced Gordon’s number. He is going to be a pallbearer and I need the spelling of his last name and relationship. I am assuming Atkinson, newphew?
I received the news a few days ago and am still in shock. Ina Mae and Stella were co-founders of Lavender Seniors of the East Bay and was an inspiration to all of us. They will be missed.
I am a grand-niece of Ina Mae. Both her and Stella as Rodney stated were the life of our family gatherings. They both were two wonderful and charismatic women who had an amazing impact wherever they went. Both will be missed greatly. There is a service on July 23 at 6 pm at the Webb Mortuary in Preston, ID for any relatives or friends who would like to attend.
Ina Mae is my father’s cousin. Ina had moved to the Bay Area when I was young, so I didn’t know her while I was growing up in SLC. But I moved to the Bay Area in 1979 and I met Ina Mae at the San Francisco Affirmation Group in 1980. We realized from the spelling of our last names that we were related. And we made a wonderful connection. They would stop to see us when we lived in St. George, UT. They came to St. George nearly every year to visit Ina’s brother. I loved both Ina and Stella so very much. As Rodney said, they were always the life of the Murri Family Reunions. Both Ina Mae and Stella were Pioneers of both the Women’s Rights and the Gay Rights Movements. I admire their courage, passion, honesty, integrity and intellegence in making this a better place and time to live as Gay Americans and especially Gay Mormons. I’m so very proud of both those amazing women. We as a community have lost 2 of the best! Michael and I both love and will miss Ina & Stella! But I’m glad they’re “still together, forever”!!!
I knew Ina and Stella for many years. We shared meals and laughs and plans and I can’t believe that they are no longer with us. I will remember them with enormous love and respect for the contributions they made to the lives of everyone they knew and for the way they enriched me personally.
Dear family and friends,
I met these amazing women in early 2002 and found them both to be so sweet, serious. confident, politically perfect, funny and Stella was a kick. I’ve been to their wonderful home, remember that giant car they drove….and the great tips on thrift stores…I will never forget and still have the business sized card Stella would give to people after helping them with whatever they needed help with that says:
” YOU HAVE JUST BEEN HELPED BY A LESBIAN-TELL A FRIEND”
that card is still in my wallet. If I could I would send the card to those pedestrians she saved! I think they know now…my condolences to all of her family and friends
sincerely, Norma J. Ramos
I am Ina Mae’s niece. A celebration of the lives of Stella and Ina Mae has brought comfort and peace to the many people attending the Idaho memorial services. I spent many hours in their home and they in our home and loved watching two sweet, adorable ladies interact. I am a grateful recipient of their generosity, caring and love. They taught me much as I watched their interactions with old and young, gay and straight, humble and haughty, biased and tolerant. I, too, like Norma, have a business card. Like Rod, Doug and Tina, I will miss our phone chats, their humor, their presence at family gatherings, their hugs, their acceptance of everyone. Thanks to all for your kind remembrances of my aunts, Ina Mae and Stella.
Thank you all for the very nice words you have shared.
It has been nearly 2 months and I am still processing our loss.
They are loved.