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Submitted: 3/23/22 • Approved: 3/24/22 • Last Updated: 3/27/22 • R1425953-G0-S3
June 8, 1939 - January 28, 2010
Murray Freeman Ray, Jr., age 70, died suddenly on January 28, 2010, of cardiac problems due to a long-standing kidney disorder. He died at his home in Hot Springs. He was born June 8, 1939, in Tate County, MS. His parents were Maude Chadwick Ray and Murray F. Ray, Sr. Murray grew up in several towns in Mississippi, including Carthage, Raytown and Cleveland. His family had moved to Jackson by the time he was in high school, and he graduated from Murrah High School in Jackson in 1958. He attended Mississippi State University and graduated from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Murray worked for Encyclopedia Britannica for 32 years in three different locations: Jackson, MS, Colorado Springs, CO, and Little Rock. He had a small sales business, Ray Specialty Sales, for seven years after moving back to Hot Springs. He was in his fourth year of driving a school bus for Lake Hamilton Schools at the time of his death.
Murray was a great storyteller and enjoyed entertaining friends and family with his many wild tales. Cooking was another one of his talents. He always loved to share his culinary treats. He enjoyed boating on Lake Hamilton very much during his last thirteen years. His other hobby was playing bridge. He was a regular bridge player at the Bridge House.
Murray is survived by his wife, Loretta Turner Ray, and his two sons: Murray R. Ray III (Lisa) of Denver and Randall Ray of Collierville, TN. His three stepchildren are Leslie Reece (Chuck) of Memphis, Lee Turner (Abbey) of Tunica, MS and Kelly Turner (Kim) of Jackson, MS. His four grandchildren are Megan, Devin, and Conner Ray of Denver and Ethan Ray of Collierville. His eleven step-grandchildren are Hal, Sydney and Hughes Reece of Memphis, Bailey, Toni and Andie Bounds and Sidney Turner of Tunica, and William, John, Thomas and Henry Turner of Jackson. He also leaves one sister, Peggy Furlow of Jackson, MS.
Murray was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs.
A visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Gross Funeral Home on Saturday, January 30, and funeral services will be at 3 o’clock Sunday at Gross Funeral Home. Interment will follow the funeral service at Crestview Cemetery on Highway 70.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1100 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901 or the National Kidney Foundation, Inc., 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016.
Contributed on 3/23/22 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1425953