Dorrell Gene Murray of McKinney was called home to his Heavenly Father on July 4, 2015. He was born on April 12, 1926 near Cumby, Texas, the son of John Herbert and Velma Griffin Murray. He moved to McKinney with his parents at about ten years of age, where he has resided ever since. He graduated from McKinney Boyd High School and attended Paris Junior College where he became a watch repairman and worked for Glendana Jewelers and Milstead Jewelry in McKinney, later becoming owner and operator of Murray's Jewelry until his retirement in 1994.
Dorrell married Avys Rae Loftice of Melissa, Texas, on November 23, 1946 in McKinney. To this union were born two sons, Michael Vernon Murray and Patrick Lynn Murray. He was an active member of North Baptist Church which later became Community North Baptist Church where he served as a deacon for over fifty years, as well as a youth Sunday School teacher and many other activities and committees of the church. He was a member of Saint John's Masonic Lodge #51 of McKinney for over sixty years.
He is survived by his wife Avys, son, Mike; daughter-in-law, Ronda, of McKinney, a sister, Willo Dene Hogge and husband, Jack of Arlington, Texas, five grandchildren, Micah Murray of Wister, Oklahoma, Mikaela Murray Odle and husband Josh of Denison, Jenny Murray Hare and husband, Tim of Richardson, Sara Murray of Van Buren, Arkansas, Dana Murray LeNorman and husband Dustin of Huntsville, Texas. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren, Madison Murray, Ava Murray, Joshua Corbin Odle and Lily Odle, a niece, Michele Schultz and husband Keith, and great-nephew, Michael, and great-niece, Nicole, of Hurst, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his son, Patrick Lynn, and his father and mother, John Herbert and Velma Murray Scott.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 8, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway N., Allen, Texas, 75013, with internment to follow at Melissa Cemetery. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 6:00-8:00 pm, Tuesday evening July 7 at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Community North Baptist Church, 2500 Community Avenue, McKinney, TX 75071, or the charity of your choice. A special thanks to the caregivers of Trinity Personal Care for almost three years, Stonefield Assisted Living and Memory Care for the past year and one-half, and Amity Hospice the past several months for their tender and loving care of Dorrell during his battle with Parkinson's disease.