Lee Roy Murray, Jr.
Posted By obits_niday on March 4, 2010
Lee Roy Murray, Jr., who died peacefully in his home on March 4, 2010, was born in Houston, Texas, on July 30, 1919 to Florence Greenough Murray and Lee Roy Murray, Sr. Tipping the scales at nearly eleven pounds, he was at the time the biggest baby ever born at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He attended Annunciation and St. Anne’s Catholic Schools and graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1937. Three short years later, he became one of the first graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and went on to become a Captain in the Merchant Marines as well as a commissioned U.S. Naval Officer. Serving as one of the country’s youngest officers during World War II, Capt. Murray took command of a variety of ammunition and supply ships that sailed between Allied ports all around the world.
On Thanksgiving Night 1941, Capt. Murray was at the helm of the S.S. Nishmaha in the South Atlantic when he spotted the survivors of the British Cruiser Dunedin, which had been torpedoed and sunk three days earlier by a Nazi U-boat. Capt. Murray led the rescue effort that saved the lives of 67 British Seaman. For this and other heroic deeds, Capt. Murray became a decorated seaman and received many honors, including the Merchant Marine Combat Ribbon. On June 19, 2005, the Dunedin Society hosted Capt. Murray and his family at a reunion held at the Royal Sailors Home Club in Portsmouth, England, where the 4 remaining Dunedin survivors presented Capt. Murray with a plaque recognizing the key role he played in the rescue.
In 1943, Capt. Murray met Evelyn Kirmss at her company’s Christmas party in New York City. They married one year later and had four children. In 1947, Capt. Murray returned to Houston and became a Port Captain for Lykes Brother’s Steam Ship Company. From 1951 until he retired in 1984, Capt. Murray served as a Ship Pilot for the Houston Pilots Association of Houston. He served four terms as the organization’s Presiding Officer.
Capt. Murray was a longtime member of the St. Thomas and King’s Point Alumni Associations, the Master Mates and Pilots Organization, and the Propeller Club, and was involved with the Houston Maritime Museum. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1990. An active member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Capt. Murray served as an usher for more than fifteen years. He and his wife also supported a number of community organizations through Catholic Charities.
After retiring as a Houston Pilot, Capt. Murray established Industrial Stamp and Graphics, became a real-estate developer, and published a variety of articles for Professional Mariner and other periodicals. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who loved spending time with his family.
Capt. Murray was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Allen Murray, and sister Betty Jane Emmick. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-seven years, Evelyn; sister Mary Louise Fertitta; son Roy Murray III; daughter Evelyn Decker; daughter and son-in-law Joanna and Allen Pasternak; daughter and son-in-law Alice and Jim Timmins; granddaughter Sheila Tanner; grandson Ross Tanner; granddaughter and grandson-in-law Alicia and Shawn Raymond; grandson Richard Decker; and grandsons James Timmins, Jr. and Lee Timmins; great-grandsons Lyle Raymond and Lyndon Raymond; great-granddaughter Summer Tanner and many loving nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to extend its heartfelt appreciation for the compassionate care provided by his caregivers: B.J. Smith, Ernestine Dickerson, Dolores Moran, Melzina Chevette Leach, and Willie Mae Hull.
The funeral Mass will be held at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 6th of March, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the charity of your choice.
Mr Murray was a blessed man to be surrounded by such loving and supportive folks.