Emilie McKay Howse Murray

Emilie McKay Howse Murray passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026, at Cedarhurst of Lawrence. Emilie was born in Wichita on February 18, 1952, to R.D. and Barbara McKay. She was a graduate of College Hill Elementary School, Robinson Junior High School, and Wichita East High School. She thereafter attended Wichita State University in its nursing program. After college, Emilie worked as a Bloodmobile nurse and thereafter as a nurse in the field of dermatology. Then, following in her mother’s footsteps, Emilie worked in women’s retail clothing for many years at Nouveau in Wichita.

On June 3, 1984, Emilie married Robert “Bob” Howse of Wichita. Emilie and Bob had three children, Makala, Cramer, and Daniel Howse. Together Emilie and Bob enjoyed many adventures with their children, including trips to Bob’s family’s extensive ranch in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. After a loving and joyous marriage punctuated by Bob’s great love of his alma mater, The University of Kansas, Bob died tragically of cancer in March of 2013.

Emilie met Tom Murray of Lawrence at the Symphony in the Flint Hills in June of 2015. They met completely by chance while walking down the long pathway to the parking area. They began a conversation and soon discovered that Emilie had lost her beloved husband, Bob, only a few months after Tom had lost his beloved wife, Cindy. Neither Emilie nor Tom had the slightest interest in remarrying but they began dating, and on November 14, 2015, they were married in Danforth Chapel in Lawrence. Together they lived in Lawrence and traveled to Tahiti, Bora Bora, New Zealand, Italy, Canada, New England and much of the rest of the United States.

Emilie is survived by her husband, Thomas V. Murray; Emilie’s daughter, Makala Taylor, her husband, Landon Taylor, and their children and Emilie’s grandchildren, Wyatt and Ruby, all of Los Angeles; and her son, Cramer, also of Los Angeles. Her son Daniel predeceased her in 2019.

Emilie is also survived by her sister, Melinda Steele and her husband Don Steele, of Alamos, Mexico; her brother, Robert McKay III, of Wichita; her sister, Polly Thompson and her husband, Brooks Thompson, of Dallas; and many nieces and nephews. A sister, Lucy, predeceased her in 2016.

Emilie was known for her loving spirit and her sincere kindness shown to all. She was loved by everyone she met.

The family extends its most sincere gratitude to Sara Finley, Emilie’s caregiver and dear friend for over two years, who brought immeasurable happiness and peace to Emilie as her condition progressed. The family also wishes to thank Cedarhurst of Lawrence and its staff for the exceptional care provided to Emilie during her extended stay there, and Molly Imber, M.D. and her staff for their superlative medical care.

Services will be at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Wichita on June 23, 2026, commencing with the Rosary at 2 p.m., and Mass at 2:30 p.m., with a reception to follow. The church services will be live streamed.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and the Wichita State University School of Nursing in memory of Emilie Howse Murray.

Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.