John T. Murray

John Thompson Murray, 79, of Sarasota, FL, went home to God on November 15, 2018 after a long illness. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sarasota. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the Sarasota National Cemetery on Clark Road. John was born in Baltimore, MD on August 18, 1939. He graduated from McDonough High School in Baltimore and after serving his country for 3 years in the military, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Baltimore. He moved to Sarasota with his family in 1972 where he and his wife owned and operated a business for 17 years on South Tamiami Trail. He was then employed by Exxon Mobil as a manager for several service stations in the Sarasota area. He retired from Exxon in 2009 after 20 years. He is predeceased by his parents, Gerard and Mildred Lee Murray of Sarasota, and survived by his wife of 52 years, Carol, his daughter, Robin M. Samuel (Bryant, Jr.), grandchildren, Morgan and John Lawrence and Noah and Natalie Samuel as well as his sister, Linda L. Boring. John will always be remembered by his friends as a total gentleman. He had a larger-than-life personality that "never knew a stranger" and a compassionate and generous heart for anyone in need. One of John's favorite "toys" as a young man was his 1960 Dodge Dart with a super charged Hemi engine. John loved his family completely above all else and was truly beloved by them. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sarasota Humane Society.