Kathyrn "Kathy" Mackenzie Murry

Kathryn (Kathy) Mackenzie Murry, beloved wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, friend and educator passed away at age 59, Saturday, Jan. 4. She was the principal at J. William Fulbright Junior High School and spent 27 years serving the Bentonville School District. She was born Aug. 9, 1954 in Jenkins, Ky. to Susanne Newell, also an educator, and James Alexander Mackenzie Sr., former head football coach of the of the Oklahoma Sooners and assistant coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. She was preceded in death by her father; and a brother, James Alexander (Alec) Mackenzie Jr. Following graduation from Fayetteville High School and earning Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration with honors in Accounting from the University of Arkansas, she began her career in accounting, and retail management. She returned to the U of A to earn a Master's of Secondary Education where she found her passion and served for more than 30 years. She taught for a combined two years as a teaching assistant in mathematics at the University of Arkansas and 14 years in the Dallas, Texas and Bentonville, Ark. school districts. Prior to serving as principal at J. William Fulbright Junior High School, she spent an additional 17 years in administration in the Bentonville School District including principal of Washington Junior High; interim principal, associate principal, and assistant principal at Bentonville High School; and as the District Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator. She is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, John W. Murry Jr.; four children, Cynthia Kay Bender of Bella Vista, Karen Murry Craig of Little Rock, Megan Ann Murry of Fayetteville and John Warren (Ren) Murry III of Bentonville; and four grandchildren Mack, Sam, Katie and Breanne. Her mother and step-father, Susanne and Oscar Disney of Louisville, Ky. also survive. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church of Bentonville, 901 N.E. J Street, Bentonville, Ark., where she was a member. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Kathy Murry Memorial Fund, Bentonville Public School Foundation, 500 Tiger Blvd., Bentonville, Ark. 72712. Arrangements are under the care of Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville.