Steffi Henriette Murray

There is undoubtedly much to say about Steffi Murray's life, but for now we will simply post the following:

10/30/13 Steffi H. Murray- Hi-Desert Star:Obituaries www.hidesertstar.com/obituaries/article_fdef5a64-fd21-54d9-acd1-751025bdc36b.html?mode=print 1/2

Steffi H. Murray Posted: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 12:00 am Retired Massage Therapist, 82 Services were held Aug. 22 at Desert Congregational Church, Pastor Craig Walker officiating, for Steffi Henrietta Murray, 82, a 49-year resident of California and a 48-year resident of Twentynine Palms, who died Aug. 15, 2007, at home.

She was born Dec. 16, 1924, to Kurt and Emma Podszus Hšrning in Kšnigsberg, Germany. Mrs. Murray attended school in her native Germany, earning certifications to teach amateur dance, body education, and gymnastics. In 1948, she was certified as a registered masseuse after attending the massage school at the University Clinic for Natural Ways of Healing in Berlin, Germany, and in 1949 she was certified as a physical therapist specializing in electrotherapy after attending the Institute for Physical Therapy in Berlin. After coming to America, she earned an associate’s degree from College of the Desert in Palm Desert in 1971 and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Chapman College in Orange in 1976. She also studied psychology in Chapman’s master’s degree program. She was a life member of the California Junior College Honor Society, Alpha Gamma Sigma. She held a number of jobs in Germany and in California, including working as a physical therapist at the Electro-Physical Rehabilitation Institute in Berlin (1949); massage and exercise therapist and gymnastics instructor at the Children’s Home and Resort School in St. Peter Nordseebad, Germany (1950); Sunday columnist instructing physical culture for Der Tagesspiegel in Berlin (1952-54); physical therapist for the county tuberculosis hospital in Berlin (1951-54) and massage therapist for Palm Springs Spa Inc. (1973-83). Her last position, from 1983 to 1997, was providing private therapeutic massage for clients in the Coachella Valley. In Twentynine Palms, Mrs. Murray founded the Desert Dog Club in 1964 with her husband, Lionel P. Murray. She also was an owner, trainer and handler of champion German Shepherds Ava Von Kšnigsberg and Nordic Von Kšnigsberg and in the 1960s conducted obedience trial handler and dog training in Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley. She was a 28-year breast cancer survivor and was a lifelong advocate for healthy living. She was preceded in death by brother Hans Hšrning, who was listed as Missing in Action in 1944; sister Jutta Hšrning in 1948; parents Emma Hšrning in 1933 and Kurt Hšrning in 1964; husband Lionel P. Murray in 1982; and infant grandson Lionel P. Murray III in 2001.