Ronald J. Murray

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Ronald J. Murray, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

Ronald was born on May 14, 1940 at 7244 S. Dobson Ave. He was the son of James B. Murray and Hilda (nee Smith) Murray. Raised in Chicago, Illinois, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Ronald was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Ronald was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Ronald was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Ronald also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Ronald was raised with two sisters, and one brother. His sisters' names were Kathleen and Mildred, and his brother's name was Robert. Ronald was constantly involved in activities with his family. Ronald and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Ronald was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. Ronald was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, Ronald was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. Ronald took part in a number of activities as a child. He took part in baseball. In his spare time he liked woodworking.

Ronald enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Ronald was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Ronald was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1958. Ronald enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite class in high school was woodshop.

Most folks would say that Ronald was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Ronald was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Ronald best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Ronald kept. While growing up, some of his best friends were Lynne Riordan, John Mason, Johnny and Bob Lyon. Later in life, he became friends with Eddie Taylor.

If you gave Ronald a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Ronald was always on task. Without hesitation, Ronald could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was as a warehouse manager with United Stationers, for 25 years. During that time, Ronald excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Ronald was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Ronald had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

Ronald liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Ronald's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Ronald preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were bowling, building bird houses, feeding the squirrels and other animals, he also enjoyed gardening. Ronald was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

Ronald was active in the community. He was practical and grounded and based his decisions on first hand experience. He was responsible and liked working to achieve results rather than just chattering about possibilities.Ronald served the community by plowing driveways after it would snow.

Doing things to help others seemed to come naturally to Ronald. He never set out to gain individual recognition, but the praise and accolades given him for his many and varied efforts throughout his life were well deserved. Ronald's most prestigious award was being the "Best Uncle In The World".

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Ronald had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included Vegas, Florida and Wisconsin.

Ronald was as loyal to his pets as they were to him. A favorite companion of his was Laddie, a Sheltie Dog.

He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. In retirement, he found pleasure in spending more quality time with his loving family. Even in retirement, Ronald continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

Ronald passed away peacefully in his home on September 20, 2011. Visitation, September 21, 2011, 3 - 9 p.m.. at Cypress Funeral Home,1698 N. Bloomingdale Rd., Glendale Heights, Illinois 60139, Funeral Service, also on September 21, 7 p.m., at Cypress Funeral Home. Interment is Private.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Ronald was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Ronald was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Ronald Murray was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Ronald. He will be missed.

Mr. Ronald J. Murray, age 71, passed away peacefully September 20, 2011. He was born on May 14, 1940. Beloved son of the late James B. and Hilda M. Murray (nee Smith); loving brother of Kathleen (the late Edward) Kwiatkowski, Mildred (the late Robert) Olsen and the late Robert J. Murray; cherished uncle of Deneen (Eric) Pradin, Karen (David) Miecznokowski, and Larry (Barbara) Olsen; adored great uncle to Eric and Connor Peterson, Christopher Pradin, and Hannah, Matthew, and Phillip Miecznokowski. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 21, 2011, from 3-9 pm at Cypress Funeral Home, 1698 N. Bloomingdale Road, (between Army Trail Road and North Avenue) in Glendale Heights. Funeral Service will be Wednesday evening at 7 pm at the funeral home. Interment private. For more information, please call us at 630-653-7666.