William Thomas (Bill) Murray

Viewed: 1996

Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Jun 29 2017 4:49 PM

William Thomas (Bill) Murray of Enterprise and a native of Ozark entered the gates of heaven Tuesday, June 20, after a seven-year valiant battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 55.

Services were held Saturday, June 24, at 10:30 a.m. with a visitation and fellowship time immediately after at Westgate Church of Christ in Dothan, AL with Coleman Funeral Home of Elba directing and Ministers Mike Murphree, Patrick Mead, Keith Ellis and Eric Bradley officiating. A private committal ceremony will be held later with immediate family members.

Bill was born Jan. 11, 1962 in Ozark, Alabama, along with his twin brother, Mark. He graduated Carroll High School in 1981 and Alabama Aviation and Technical College in 1990. He loved working in the field of avionics for Sikorsky, DynCorp and Army Fleet Support at Fort Rucker and Troy Municipal Airport.

Bill served the Alabama and Mississippi Air National Guards for 20 years as an Aerospace Ground Equipment Technician. He was a long-time faithful member of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Union, Local Lodge 2003, Fort Rucker/ Daleville.  Bill retired from Army Fleet Support at Fort Rucker after spending many years working as an avionics technician. ALS forced an early retirement in 2010. Mr. Murray was also retired from the 187th Fighter Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard in Montgomery in 2002. He entered the service at the now-deactivated 117th Tactical Control Squadron in 1981. He will receive full military honors at the service.

In his spare time, Bill enjoyed spending time with his wife, Jan, and children Jacob and Kimberlin, fishing, hunting, camping in the mountains, the beach, singing at church and helping others. After ALS stole his movement he spent hours playing music on his Ipad for other nursing home residents and loving on and sometimes jokingly picking on the Enterprise Health and Rehab staff.

Bill was known throughout his life for his constant smile and wit, bringing joy to others and always helping and caring for others more than himself. He had a knack for finding fun in any situation and will be remembered for his big happy smile and infectious, mischievous laugh. He was also nicknamed MacGyver at the nursing home because he always had a new invention or way of fixing things out of duct tape, zip ties and pool noodles. Most importantly, his continued faith in the Lord, despite a most debilitating terminal disease, planted many seeds for the Lord and brought many lost souls to God. Those seeds sown will continue to sprout for the Kingdom. His greatest wish is for all of his family, friends and loved ones to know the Lord, love each other, help each other and meet him in heaven one day...and Be happy.

Bill was preceded in death by his first-born son, William Matthew Murray; his triplets Anna Kathryn, Lee and Scott; brothers James and Joey; his father Jimmy Lee Murray; his father-in-law L.G. Weeks and his step-father-in-law Bill King.

Survivors include his best friend and wife of nearly 33 years, Jan Weeks Murray, his two children Jacob and Kimberlin Murray of Dothan and Enterprise, respectively; his mother Elizabeth (Libby) Murray of Ozark; his mother-in-law Laura Weeks King of Ormond Beach, FL; brother-in-law Scott (Stacy) Weeks of Ormond Beach, FL; sister-in-law Lori Weeks (Tony) Swindall; his twin brother Mark (Elizabeth) Murray of Wicksburg; sisters Miriam Murray (Ted) Painton of Enterprise; Laura Murray (John) Stagliano of Jacksonville, FL;  special family members Leslie Mowery of Mumford, AL; Alora Rogers of Dothan, AL and Caleb Smith of Enterprise; numerous nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives. Bill and Jan also consider Lisa with Covenant Care Hospice a permanent part of the family as she was by his side for four solid years,  caring for him lovingly.

Pallbearers honoring Bill will be nephews Bryant Oliver Swindall of Troy; Cody Allen Weeks of Knoxville, TN; Quinton Scott Weeks of Tampa, FL; former co-workers Vincent Petty of Ozark and John Drewery of Enterprise, as well as lifelong friend Mark Schwarz of Dothan.

Flowers will be accepted, but memorial contributions will be much appreciated for Wiregrass Christian Youth Camp in Chancellor, AL--PO Box 311072, Enterprise, AL 36331-1072; The Steve Gleason Foundation/TeamGleason.Org or the William T. (Bill) Murray Memorial Scholarship for Avionics at Enterprise State Community College, 600 Plaza Dr., Enterprise, AL 36330.

 

<- back