Pat McMurray

Pat McMurray, 79, of Abilene, passed away Thursday, August 10, 2006 at a local hospital. Memorial services will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 13, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church with Rev. David Cason and Rev. Jim Wallace officiating. Local arrangements are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Pat was born on March 14, 1927 in Waco, Texas to Sam and Catherine (Beall) McMurray, he graduated from high school in Dallas, Texas and then joined the United States Army on March 14, 1945. He married Maxine Morrison in 1951 and the couple remained together until her death in 1998. While in the Army, he was a Master Sergeant and Launch Control Officer for Nike Missile Systems, performing pioneering work in the computer systems. A recipient of the Bronze Star, Pat served for 23 years before retiring on June 1, 1966. Pat has been a resident of Abilene since 1965, where after Maxine's death, he married Barbara Willis. He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church where he was an Elder and the church treasurer for 7 years, as well as the Treasurer of the Presbyterian Encampment at Buffalo Gap for 14 years. Pat was a member of the Cactus Lions Club, a Boy Scout Leader and an avid motorcycle, golf, and tennis enthusiast. He ran an insurance agency and was a mainframe computer repairman with Honeywell. In later years, Pat had attended Broadview Baptist Church. Pat was preceded in death by both of his parents, his wife Maxine, a son, Christopher, and a brother, Sam B. McMurray. He is survived by his wife Barbara Willis McMurray of Abilene; three sons, Timothy McMurray and his wife Pam of Abilene, David McMurray and his wife Janet of Abilene, and Mark McMurray and his wife Jill of Houston; one daughter Patsy Fakhreddine and her husband Youssef of Charlotte, North Carolina; one brother Dick McMurray and his wife Nancy of Houston; one sister Kay Smith of Jackson, Mississippi, several grandchildren and one great grandson. Memorials may be made in honor of Pat to the American Red Cross-Big Country Regional Chapter, 1610 North 2nd Street, Abilene, Texas 79601.