Clyde Andrew Murray

Clyde Andrew Murray, age 86 of Huntsville, Texas, passed away on Saturday, November 21, 2015, with his daughter by his side. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Huntsville with Mr. James Albert Miller, kinsman, friend, and spiritual mentor, presiding. A gathering in the fellowship hall of the church will follow. Clyde Murray was a loving father, grandfather, and friend. He was born on his grandfather’s farm in the Round Prairie Community in the northwest part of Walker County, Texas, on December 22, 1928, to the late Andrew Jefferson Murray and Thelma Jeanette Anderson Murray. He later attended county schools at Round Prairie, Crabbs Prairie, and Sion. In 1946, he graduated from Huntsville High School where he developed an interest in journalism which he studied at Sam Houston State Teachers College, now Sam Houston State University. For one year, he was sports editor of the campus newspaper, the Houstonian. In 1951, he was drafted into the Army and, during the latter part of the Korean War, served as a combat correspondent in Korea with the 45th Division. His articles on the war appeared in the Stars and Stripes, wire services, and hometown newspapers. His last news assignment in the military was covering Operation Little Switch, the exchange of wounded POW’s with North Korea. For his work as a correspondent in a combat area, Sgt. Murray was awarded the Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged in 1953. Mr. Murray was a journalist whose career spanned more than fifty years. Following the war, he worked on Texas newspapers in Baytown, Conroe, and Corsicana, and, in 1963 took a year off from the newsrooms to earn a B.S. degree in journalism from East Texas State University, Commerce, now Texas A&M, Commerce. During his academic career, he was the recipient of the Dallas Press Club Scholarship Award and was initiated into the campus chapter of Sigma Delta Chi. In 1957, he married Jo Ondrusek of Rosenberg, Texas, and, in 1962, a daughter, Sarah Hollis Murray, was born. Later, in 1964, the couple was blessed with a son, Andrew Keller Murray. For the next two decades, Mr. Murray lived and worked in Arizona. His seven years with the Arizona Republic brought him a major award in news writing. In 1970, he left the Arizona Republic to become Public Information Officer for Maricopa County, Arizona. During his tenure with Maricopa County, he was also a writer for Collier’s Yearbook, feature writer for the U.S. Information Service, and discussion leader for the Great Books Program. He also served as the National President of the National Association of County Information Officers and was President of Sigma Delta Chi, Phoenix Valley of the Sun Chapter. Upon leaving Maricopa County, he became editor for Samaritan Health News, a corporate newspaper in Phoenix. He also worked as a teacher and advisor for a community college system in Maricopa County. Mr. Murray moved from Arizona to assist with the compilation of a book on whistle blowers in Washington D.C. In 1980’s, he moved to Texas to care for his parents where he contributed several columns to the Huntsville Item. In 2000, he received a distinguished alumni award in the field of journalism. He also became a member of the First Christian Church and a member of the Walker County Historical Commission. Mr. Murray was a compassionate man who genuinely took interest in others. Warm and generous, he made people feel comfortable and good about themselves. Intelligent, loving, and spiritual, he had the ability to console, heal, and encourage, and he brought joy to his family and friends. He had the heart and soul of a writer and storyteller. Clyde Andrew Murray is survived by his two loving children, Sarah Hollis Murray and Andrew Keller Murray, his wife Bobbie, and four grandchildren to include Rachael Grace Murray, Meagan Anne Murray, Skye Ariana Murray, and Jackson Edward Murray. He is also survived by a brother, Anderson Oneal Murray and his wife Wanda; niece Leslie Murray Bochniak, her husband Philip, and their daughter Erin Oneal; nephew Michael Oneal Murray, his wife Whitney, and their son Michael Oneal; and, special friend, Mary Alice Haake along with many dear and loved extended family members and friends. Donations in memory of Clyde Andrew Murray can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or to the First Christian Church. Full obituary may be viewed and memorial condolences made to the family at www.shmfh.com.

Clyde Andrew Murray

December 22, 1928 - November 21, 2015