Christine F. Murden

Christine F. Murden, age 68, of Carmel, Indiana, peacefully passed away while surrounded by her family on December 8, 2022. She was born on August 7, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Arnold and Shirley Fleer.

Christy was a passionate kindergarten teacher for 37 years at Carmel Elementary. She received her bachelor and masters degrees in education from Indiana University. Christy touched the lives of many children, families, colleagues, and friends throughout the Carmel Clay Schools community. Those who had the pleasure of working with Christy will always remember the love and compassion she spread, well beyond her classroom walls.

Originally born in St. Louis, Missouri, Christy moved to Carmel, Indiana with her parents and siblings as a child. Christy was the eldest of three and loved taking care of others. She and her siblings, Carol and Paul, developed a passion for animals and enjoyed caring for many pets over the years. Christy attended Carmel schools and graduated from Carmel High School in 1973, where she met the love of her life, Tom.

Tom and Christy began dating in the summer of 1973 and attended Indiana University together. Many fond memories were made throughout their time together at IU. Tom showered Christy with cards and flowers, and even rode his bicycle across campus with a vase of flowers in one hand to give to his love. They enjoyed visiting Brown County and walking the streets of Nashville. On the weekends, they would travel home together to teach baton twirling and drum lessons. Christy and Tom were married on October 22, 1977 and lived in a little apartment in downtown Carmel. One of their most memorable moments in that apartment was hunkering down for the Blizzard of ‘78. In 1981, they began a family with the birth of their daughter, Emily. The family continued to grow when Ashley was born in 1985 and Nathan in 1988. Tom and Christy eventually purchased the house built by her father on Lakeshore Drive East and settled down in Carmel to raise their family.

As a doting grandmother, Christy cherished every moment with her grandchildren. She enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren with sleepovers, celebrations, stories, games, treats, and family trips to the beach. She loved cheering them on at soccer games, swim meets, dance competitions and recitals. Holidays were especially magical at the Murden household. Christy enjoyed hosting parties for nearly any and every holiday throughout the year, complete with creative decorations, crafts, and food. Christmas was among her favorite holidays. Every intricate detail was well planned, from the bows on the presents to the candy canes in the champagne flutes. The traditions and memories she thoughtfully created will continue to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for many years.

A devoted baton twirler, Christy was well known in high school as the feature twirler for the Carmel High School Marching Band. She touched many lives within the baton twirling community as well. She taught numerous students and coached both of her daughters. Christy enjoyed traveling around the Midwest to attend lessons and competitions. Many fond memories were made traveling to nationals at the University of Notre Dame each summer, both as a twirler and a coach.

Christy loved spending hours gardening and tending to the flowers in her beautiful yard. She enjoyed decorating and making her home feel warm and inviting. Her Sunday mornings were spent with Tom listening to the online sermon at church. She trusted God’s plan for her life and made the most of her days with her family. While our hearts are broken and she will be truly missed, we find comfort knowing she is finally healed and resting peacefully in God’s Kingdom.

Christy is survived by her loving husband, Tom Murden; children, Emily (Jeremy) Addleman, Ashley (Jeff) Hartowicz, and Nathan Murden; grandchildren, Ian Addleman, Elise Addleman, Heidi Hartowicz, and Natalie Hartowicz; siblings, Carol Fleer and Paul (Vicki) Fleer, and brother-in-law Bob Murden.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 14, from 4 pm to 7 pm, at Flanner Buchanan – Carmel, 325 E Carmel Drive. Funeral Service will be on Friday, December 16, at 1 pm, at the same location. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Flowers are welcome, and other contributions can be made to the Carmel Clay Education Foundation, 515 East Main Street Suite 124 Carmel, IN 46032.