William ‘Bill’ Murray
William “Bill” Murray, age 89, of the Royal Oaks community in Maryville, passed away on Thursday, January 3, 2013, at Ben Atchley State Veteran’s Home in Knoxville, following an extended illness. Bill was born on March 17, 1923, to the late Sherman and Josephine Parr Murray in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was married to his loving wife, Moniene Jones Murray, for 37 years, and was a member of New Providence Church. Bill is preceded in death by sister, Dorothy; and the mother of his children, RoseAnna Schafer Murray. He is survived by his wife, Moniene Jones Murray; children, Candace (Gary) Reagan of Alcoa, and Craig Murray of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Clark, Drew, Amanda, Lydia and Camille; and three great-grandchildren. Bill was a fine young man who was recruited out of high school to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He met J. Edgar Hoover during his tenure with the FBI and was in communications. Once World War II began, Bill decided that he needed to serve his country in a different way and after meeting with Mr. Hoover to express his intentions, he left the bureau and joined the United States Marine Corps. Bill served in the North Solomon Islands and Piva Yoke, using his expertise in communications. Upon his honorable discharge, having attained the rank of corporal, his commanding officer wrote on his discharge forms that he was a man of fine character. Once leaving the Marines, he completed his education by earning a degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Bill then worked for ALCOA for 31 years and was in management for their domestic transportation, coordinating logistics for them and was the CEO of ALCOA’s four subsidiary railroads. A celebration of Bill’s life with military honors will be held at East Tennessee Veteran’s Cemetery, 5901 Lyons View Pike, Knoxville, on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Legacy Peer Group (a Knoxville regional veteran’s organization), 804 Gulfwood Road, Knoxville, TN 37923. Arrangements by Cremation Options, Inc., 6WE-CARE (693-2273) http://www.cremationoptionsinc.com
