Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Lorene Merz Murray, born on Dec. 18, 1933, passed away peacefully on Oct. 17, 2026. She was born in Woodland, Washington, to John A Merz and Luella Eaton Merz. She lived a life marked by dedication, quiet strength, and unwavering commitment to her family, her work, and her community.
She married the love of her life on Sept., 13, 1951, and they were married 60 years before his passing in 2011. To this marriage, two daughters were born: Evie in 1952 and Kathie in 1954.
Lorene was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Albert William “Bill” Murray; her brother, John A. “Scooter” Merz; and her stepsiblings Joanne Godfrey Bader, Joe Godfrey, and Joyce Godfrey Cannon. She is survived by her daughters Evie Hasty (Rod) and Kathie Alley (John) of Hood River, Oregon. Lorene leaves behind her grandchildren Rod Hasty of West Linn, Oregon; Mike Hasty (Rachelle) of Warrenton, Oregon; Matthew Alley (Heather) of Hood River; and Katie Alley Breshaers (Bob) of Hood River. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Taylor Plummer, Lilly Hasty, Tanis Hasty, Niko Alley and Mark Peleshok, each of whom brought her tremendous joy. She also leaves behind her sisters Melody Smith of Woodland and RosAnne Merz of Ecuador, and her brothers Ron Merz of Hood River and Steve Merz of Lebanon, Oregon.
Throughout her life, Lorene was dedicated to service, craftsmanship, and community. She worked at Kaiser Hospital in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, where her reliability and compassion were deeply valued. She later shared her extensive knowledge of plants at the Lake Grove Garden Center in Lake Grove, Oregon. Lorene also played an essential role as a partner with her husband, Bill, in operating Murray’s Bakery in West Linn, Oregon, helping build the bakery into a beloved local institution.
Lorene’s personal interests reflected her creativity, intelligence, and gentle spirit. She found great joy in floral and vegetable gardening, tending her plants with remarkable knowledge and care. A talented seamstress, she crafted clothing and household items with skill and precision. She cherished music, singing faithfully in the church choir and holding a lifelong appreciation for classical music. Lorene was also an exceptional cook, contributing her talents to the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Murray’s Bakery.
Lorene will be remembered for her kindness, her steady presence, and the deep love she carried for her family. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the traditions she nurtured, and the quiet strength she shared with all who knew her.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com.
Columbia Gorge News, Oct. 28, 2026
To plant a tree in memory of Lorene Murray as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) entries
Sign the guestbook.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.