Murray Daniel was born to his beloved mother, Dolores Shelby, and raised with great love and guidance by her and his father, George Daniel. A boy of exceptional intelligence and endless curiosity, Murray attended Garland High School with many distinctions and academic successes. Murray went on to the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in math under the tutelage of the renowned R.L. Moore, with a minor in Russian.
A polylinguist at heart, Murray went on to learn eleven different languages, seven fluently. With these skills, he served honorably in the U.S. Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis. While working and living in New York City, he met and married Dalia Ross in 1966. Together they raised their adoring daughter, Dawn, in Austin, Texas. These cherished life-long relationships continued until his passing.
Murray had a lengthy career at the Texas Highway Department as a computer specialist and programmer. He had many diverse hobbies that brought him much satisfaction, including pottery, guitar, music, and building things with his hands. Murray had a particular interest and effortless ability to learn different faiths and healing arts.
Toward the end of his life, Murray suffered many illnesses and indignities. He tolerated these with an equanimity in keeping with his Buddhist ideals of 46 years. A man of incredible kindness, selfless generosity, compassion and understanding, Murray will be remembered for his rare intelligence, wit, ability to teach and impart knowledge, and dedication to his religious path.
Murray is survived by his daughter Dawn Daniel, M.D., her husband, Herbert Madan and their children Gabriel and Danica, of Tiburon, California; his father, George Daniel, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; his sister Linda Daniel Ducat of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and his nephews Morgan Landry and Garrison Landry of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
