Christine Thackeray Murdock

Christine Thackeray Murdock, 78, passed away at her home in Morgan, Utah, on September 18, 2026, a home full of many happy memories.

Chris was born on February 16, 1948, in Ogden, Utah, to Jack and Deane Thackeray. She grew up on the Thackeray farm in Morgan alongside her sisters, Pat and Shelia, and her brother, John. Together they learned the value of hard work, grit, and looking out for one another. It was there that Chris developed the warmth, generosity, and deep love of home and family that would define her entire life. A tough farm girl at heart, she never strayed far from those roots, living her entire life within a mile of the Thackeray farm. She married her high school sweetheart, Lowell Murdock, on August 5, 1965, and together they built 61 years of marriage and a family that became her greatest pride and joy.

Chris was the heart of her home. She had a gift for gathering people around her, opening her doors wide, putting out a feast, turning on a ball game, and making everyone who walked in feel like they were exactly where they belonged. She was an excellent cook, and a dinner at Chris's house was always a treat. The food was generous, the spirit was sweet, and no one ever left hungry. Whether it was a holiday, a Sunday afternoon, or an ordinary Tuesday, Chris wanted her family close. Because of who she was, everyone always wanted to come back.

Beyond her own front door, Chris spent many years working as a clerk at Morgan Drug, where she became a familiar and beloved face in the community. She loved the beauty of the Morgan Valley and its people, the daily connections, catching up on the news, asking after someone's family, and offering her quiet kindness to everyone who came through the door. She built many wonderful friendships over those years.

She was her grandchildren's biggest fan, faithfully cheering them on at ball games at Morgan High, North Summit High, and Davis High. She didn't need to go far to find happiness, a living room full of family, a game on TV, and the sound of her loved ones laughing was everything she ever wanted.

Those who knew Chris would describe her as kindness itself, selfless to a fault, endlessly welcoming, and always putting others before herself. But perhaps her greatest gift was the simplest one: she listened. Chris gave you her full attention, never made the conversation about herself, and had a way of making you feel like the most important person in the room. She was a wonderful conversationalist and gave thoughtful counsel, and you always left her presence feeling better than when you arrived. She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, full of faith, and served quietly and faithfully throughout her life.

Chris is survived by her husband, Lowell Murdock; her children, Darin Murdock (Brooke), Wade Murdock (Merilee), Nathan Murdock (Shanel), and Amber Murdock; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Pat Wilbert (Dave) and Shelia Woolsey (Dennis). She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Deane Thackeray, and her brother, John Thackeray.

Services

A viewing will be held Monday, September 28, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Morgan Utah Stake Center. A second viewing will be held Tuesday, September 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at the Morgan Utah Stake Center. Interment will follow at the North Morgan Cemetery.

Chris didn't ask for much. She lived a simple life and enjoyed the small things, the things that, over the course of 78 years, accumulated into a life of happiness and love. All she ever really wanted was her family around her. And that is exactly how she lived.