Obituary for Ray Chapple Murrell
RAY CHAPPLE MURRELL * May 19, 1915 " April 10, 2011
Ray Chapple Murrell, loved father, father-in-law, grandfather, and great grandfather, went to be with his Lord on April 10, 2011. He was a leading soil conservationist in the Altus community, a long time board member of the First United Methodist Church, community leader, avid golfer, sports fan, a part time farmer, and a family man who worked a second job in order to give his children a college- educated head start. He loved to laugh, and delighted in telling jokes and stories to see if he could make others to do so.
Ray was born May 19, 1915, on a farm east of Altus near the Ozark School to George Chapple and Minnie Francis (Jones) Murrell. Ray was the youngest of five children: Lela Tillman, Lois Partain, Jesse Murrell, and Roy Murrell. He attended school in Ozark until he moved to Victory, Oklahoma when he was 12, where he met Lucille Hensley, the love of his life and wife for sixty four years. Ray was George Burns to Lucille"s Gracie Allen, but unlike Gracie, Lucille would burst into laughter at his jokes. He graduated from Victory High School in 1934. He attended Oklahoma State University (then OAMC), where he graduated Phi Kappa Phi in 1938. He taught school at Cameron College for two years before beginning work with the Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service in 1940. Ray worked for SCS in Sentinel and Anadarko before moving to Altus in 1952. He completed an outstanding thirty four year conservation career in 1974 when he received a certificate of merit for training other Oklahoma conservationists for twenty years. He loved to fish and hunt, and after retirement became a faithful golfer at the Elks Golf and Country Club. One of his favorite past times was being the best OSU sports fan he could be. He made sure that all of his children received that OSU degree.
Ray is survived by his children Betty Murrell Hove of Fort Worth, Texas, George Ray Murrell of Mesquite, Texas, and Sue Murrell Mennell of Magnolia, Texas. Their spouses are Larry Hove, Lylene Gates Murrell, and Bob Mennell. Grandchildren are Jennifer Hove, Eric Hove, Anna Landers, Emily Wohlgemuth, and Amy Gorman. There are eight great grandchildren.
The family will greet friends on Tuesday, April 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.
Memorial Services to celebrate his life will be held at First United Methodist Church, Altus, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. The family will hold a private committal service at the Altus City Cemetery before the services at the church. Arrangements are with Lowell-Tims Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Altus First United Methodist Church: 317 North Main Street; Altus, OK 73521-3105; Phone: (580) 482-0795 or the charity of your choice.
On-line tributes may be made to the family at www.Lowell-Tims.com
04/13/2011
1:30 AM
Funeral
First United Methodist Church
Altus
OK
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Ray Chapple Murrell, loved father, father-in-law, grandfather, and great grandfather, went to be with his Lord on April 10, 2011. He was a leading soil conservationist in the Altus community, a long time board member of the First United Methodist Church, community leader, avid golfer, sports fan, a part time farmer, and a family man who worked a second job in order to give his children a college- educated head start. He loved to laugh, and delighted in telling jokes and stories to see if he could make others to do so.
Ray was born May 19, 1915, on a farm east of Altus near the Ozark School to George Chapple and Minnie Francis (Jones) Murrell. Ray was the youngest of five children: Lela Tillman, Lois Partain, Jesse Murrell, and Roy Murrell. He attended school in Ozark until he moved to Victory, Oklahoma when he was 12, where he met Lucille Hensley, the love of his life and wife for sixty four years. Ray was George Burns to Lucille"s Gracie Allen, but unlike Gracie, Lucille would burst into laughter at his jokes. He graduated from Victory High School in 1934. He attended Oklahoma State University (then OAMC), where he graduated Phi Kappa Phi in 1938. He taught school at Cameron College for two years before beginning work with the Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service in 1940. Ray worked for SCS in Sentinel and Anadarko before moving to Altus in 1952. He completed an outstanding thirty four year conservation career in 1974 when he received a certificate of merit for training other Oklahoma conservationists for twenty years. He loved to fish and hunt, and after retirement became a faithful golfer at the Elks Golf and Country Club. One of his favorite past times was being the best OSU sports fan he could be. He made sure that all of his children received that OSU degree.
Ray is survived by his children Betty Murrell Hove of Fort Worth, Texas, George Ray Murrell of Mesquite, Texas, and Sue Murrell Mennell of Magnolia, Texas. Their spouses are Larry Hove, Lylene Gates Murrell, and Bob Mennell. Grandchildren are Jennifer Hove, Eric Hove, Anna Landers, Emily Wohlgemuth, and Amy Gorman. There are eight great grandchildren.
The family will greet friends on Tuesday, April 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.
Memorial Services to celebrate his life will be held at First United Methodist Church, Altus, Oklahoma, on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. The family will hold a private committal service at the Altus City Cemetery before the services at the church. Arrangements are with Lowell-Tims Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Altus First United Methodist Church: 317 North Main Street; Altus, OK 73521-3105; Phone: (580) 482-0795 or the charity of your choice.
On-line tributes may be made to the family at www.Lowell-Tims.com
04/13/2011
1:30 AM
Funeral
First United Methodist Church
Altus
OK
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