Joseph L. Murray Sr.

Joseph L. Murray Sr., 95, of Scottsbluff-Gering, passed away Monday, November 3, 2008, at Mitchell Care Center in Mitchell. His funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 7, 2008, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Chaplain Rachael LaBounty officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park at Scottsbluff. Friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to 23 Club Baseball and Gering Organized Baseball. Joe was known as a gentle man and lived a long and full life, celebrating family accomplishments and enjoyed their love and respect. He was born on September 28th, 1913 at Boneita Springs, SD to Martin L and Lurandi Rose Kellogg Murray. He shared many stories of his early life in South Dakota from childhood experiences of transportation by horse and wagon, experiencing the first horseless carriages and early Fords to the original airplane barnstormers. During the Prohibition Era, he took a job with McDonald Chevrolet of Rapid City, SD. He would take a Parts Manager position with the Chevrolet dealership in Scottsbluff, NE in the late 50’s and remained working as Parts Manager for that dealership until his retirement in the late 1970s. He remained active in the Eagles Lodge and held many positions within that fraternal organization. He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church at the time of his death. Joe is survived by eight children, Theresa Greenough, Gering NE, Joseph L. Murray Jr., Mattawamkeag ME, Fred M. Murray, Layton UT, Jodell K Larimer, Ft Collins CO, John L. Murray, Richmond VA, James F Murray, Aurora CO, Thomas J. Murray, Akron PA, and Kenneth R Larimer, Clarksville, TN, their spouses, 29 Grandchildren, 52 Great Grandchildren and 8 Great Great Grandchildren. All will miss his wisdom and love. He is also survived by one sister, Thelma Delbridge of Tucson, AZ. He was preceded in death by his two wives, Helen Ruth Goodschmidt Murray and Neva Eileen Stoner; brothers Leonard and Vern; sisters Rosemary and Eva, one infant child and two daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Kathleen.