Alexandra Fassnacht Murray

Alexandra F. Murray, born Alexandra Fassnacht, was born to Raymond Fassnacht and Joan Fassnacht in Greely, CO on July 10^th, 1952. She was known to her friends as Sandie and her family as San-San. 

Sandie grew up in Indonesia on the island of Sumatra where her father worked for Good Year. She attended The American School in Singapore throughout this time. She frequently spoke of her misadventures with her siblings during this time; often recounting how swimming in the ocean during summers would turn her hair green due to the algae and of time spent in detention for exacting revenge on any bully who would dare to taunt her younger brother and sister.  She spoke fondly of this time and valued the impact growing up overseas had on her perspective on the world. 

After high school, Sandie moved to Oklahoma to attend nursing school at the University of Oklahoma and to be close to her grandmother in Oklahoma City. She met Randal Murray in the late 1970s and later married. Her only son, Sean Murray, was born in 1981. She worked as a nurse for nearly 40 years, spending the bulk of that time working for the State Hospital, now OU Medical, and retired from the VA hospital where she worked in the infusion clinic. She was a dedicated mother and enjoyed exposing her son to cuisines from all over the world. If there was a new interesting restaurant in town, she would be there with her son in short order.  Though she and Randal later divorced, they remained close friends until his death in 2002. 

She was an avid reader and usually had a room dedicated to the hundreds of books she had read throughout her life. She enjoyed a wide variety of genres but had a special affinity for science fiction and fantasy. One of her most treasured possessions from nursing school was a chemistry book written by Isaac Asimov. She also thoroughly enjoyed movies, TV with odd twists and turns, and all things silly; her favorites were Korean horror, Swedish Crime dramas, Monty Python, and Kids in the Hall.  

She was an active member in the Wicca community and a treasured member of cat hair. She enjoyed camping, learning about natural remedies, her community, and the unconditional love they showed her. She later lived with members of this community on a farm in Missouri and loved them as her chosen family. She often spoke of the drama amongst the goats and sheep, and how the donkey’s feelings could easily be hurt if not shown proper and prompt attention. She clearly loved this period of her life.

She is preceded in death by her Father Raymond Fassnacht and ex-husband Randal Murray. She is survived by her Mother Joan Fassnacht, Sister Chris Fassnacht, brother Jon Fassnacht, and son Sean Murray.