Ray E. Murray, 83, a former resident of Cleveland, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 in Loudon County where he had lived since 2000.
Mr. Murray was born June 7, 1929, in Ooltewah, Tenn., and was the son of the late Nora Bell Spencer Murray and Gilbert H. “Bert” Murray. He was a descendant of the Samuel Francis Murray family from Knox County, who settled in Bradley County in the early 1880s.
His wife, Charlcie Kate Waddell Murray; his son, Grant Eric Murray; his stepmother, Geneva Cunningham Murray; and his brothers, Clifford, Roy Lee, Leonard, Carl, Billie and Garland Murray preceded him in death.
Mr. Murray worked 35 years for Preston Graphics and served as Deputy Sheriff and Constable for Bradley County and Chief of Police for Charleston, Tenn. After retirement, he was a faithful service provider with Jim Rush Funeral Homes in Cleveland and Click Funeral Home in Lenoir City. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was also a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and his faith in his Heavenly Father did not waver in the trials of life. His interests included reading, fishing, bird watching and horses.
Survivors include his daughter, Brenda Morris and her husband Jim of Lenoir City; sisters, Frances Swafford and her husband Jim of Cleveland, and Carolyn Milligan and her husband Jim of Austin, Texas; sisters-in-law, Irene Moreland Murray, Tina Day Murray and Sherry Triplett Murray of Cleveland; brothers, Garry Murray and his wife Janice of Cleveland, and Gordon Samuel "Sam" Murray of Birchwood; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family received friends from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, at the North Ocoee Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes. The Remembrance of Life Service was conducted at 3 p.m. with Pastor David Brass and Elder Jim Morris officiating. Interment followed in the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Cleveland with Jim Morris, Garry Murray, Jim Swafford, Dale Murray, Brian Swafford, Cody Swafford and Jeff Morelock serving as pallbearers.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the Murray Cemetery Association in care of Maxine Murray, 4005 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland, TN 37312 or to WBLC Radio, P.O. Box 247, Lenoir City, TN 37771.
There will be a memorial service held in Lenoir City at noon Jan. 19, 2013, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2500 Harrison Road. The North Ocoee Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements. The memorial book may be viewed and signed at www.jim rushfuneralhomes.com.