Donald Martin Murray

Don Murray was born August 22, 1929, in Buffalo, NY to the late Martin Patrick and Margaret Gillogly Murray. He was very proud of his Irish and Buffalo roots. He was educated at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, NY and attended Canisius College earning a BS in History. Upon graduation he joined the Army and served for two years at Fort Bliss, Texas. During his service, he married his high school sweetheart, Maureen Downing. Don Murray was an only child and was very close to the extended Downing family from Buffalo, NY in addition to the many lifelong friendships that he cherished dearly.

At the end of his service, he attended law school at the University of Buffalo for one year when a high school friend told him that the FBI was hiring. He applied and worked for the FBI for 24 the years. His assignments took him to Chicago, IL, and Fayetteville, Charlotte and Raleigh, NC. He was the Senior Resident Agent in Raleigh when he retired from the Bureau in 1979. He took a position with the NC State Department of Crime Control and Public Safety as the first Director of Alcohol Law Enforcement (A.L.E.) for 12 years. During his term with the A.L.E. he founded the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association, a non-profit association of law enforcement personnel dedicated to the enforcement of liquor laws and regulations. The first national meeting was held with participants from 10 other states and has been growing since 1986.

Don was active in Our Lady of Lourdes Parish since 1965. He was a member of Toastmasters and the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, volunteered with Meals on Wheels, and coached little league baseball. He was an avid family man, golfer, fisherman, and reader. His interests included history, genealogy and anything Irish.

Don Murray is survived by his children: daughters Colleen Murray Causby (Marty) of Wake Forest, NC; Donna Murray Preller (Ron) of Olney, MD; Meghan Murray Stanley, (Dwight, III) of Geneva, IL; sons Kevin Murray (Kelly) of Arlington, VA; and Timothy Murray (Christiane) of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren Michele Oeters Minehart (Sean), Richard Oeters, Lauryn Preller Holmquist (Nick), Robert Preller, Shea Stanley, Michael Stanley, Patrick Murray, Sean Murray, Ian Murray, Evelyn Reen Murray, Sommer Murray and Ryan Murray; and great-grandchildren Ashlyn Minehart, Dylan Minehart, Rachel Minehart, and Natalie Holmquist.

Don Murray is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 55 years, Maureen.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the following: Friends of the NC Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Transitions LifeCare, or Sisters of Mercy, by using the links below, under 'Donations'.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raleigh, on Friday, March 22, 2024, at 11:00am. The family will receive visitors Thursday evening at Mitchell Funeral Home, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, with a Rosary Service to be held at 7:30pm..

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