Wynona “Nona” Kay (Hawthorne) Murray, born November 15, 1953, to L. Howard Hawthorne and Georgine (Ginn) Hawthorne, passed away on April 25, 2024 in Redmond, Washington. She grew up in Little River, Kansas and moved to Hays with her family in 1970, graduating from Hays High School in 1971.
Nona studied nursing at Fort Hays State University and Advanced Practice Nursing Child and Family Mental Health at the University of Kansas. Her long medical career took her to various places throughout Kansas, Ohio, and Washington.
Nona was a patron of the arts and in her younger years enjoyed camping.
On April 21, 1984 she gave birth to the pride and joy of her life her beautiful daughter Kathleen (Kate) Francis Murray.
Nona is survived by her brothers, Steve (Vicki) Hawthorne of Hays, KS, Lee Hawthorne of Hoisington, KS, step daughters Megan (Marcel) Shoemaker of Bella Vista, AR and Julie (Brian) Nelson of Topeka, KS, nieces Skye (Robert) Bare of Pratt, KS, Erin (Dr. Benjamin) Kinderknecht of Maryville, MO, Carly Hawthorne (Jesse Stockwell) of Colorado Springs, CO, and her best friend and roommate of many years, Pamela Wickenhauser of Redmond, WA. She is also survived by her step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, great nieces and nephews and great-great niece.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Georgine Hawthorne, her daughter Kate Murray and friend Dennis Franz.
Graveside services are Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in Bean Cemetery, Little River, KS.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your local chapter of the cancer society or the humane society in memory of Nona Murray. Memories and words of comfort can be left with the family at
[email protected]. Cards can be sent to Steve Hawthorne, P.O. Box 95, Hays, KS 67601