OLD TOWN – Ralph E. ‘Jake’ Murray Sr., 88, husband of the late Barbara (Jones) Murray died June 6, 2005, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 30, 1917, in Bangor, a son of Percy Sr. and Olga (Lawson) Murray. He grew up in Brewer and was a 1937 graduate of Brewer High School, where he excelled in all sports. He served bravely in the European Campaign of World War II participating in the Normandy Invasion. He retired from the University of Maine after many years of service. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a superb baseball critic, and despite all the raving, was pleased to finally see the Red Sox win the World Series. He was a very dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by a daughter,Nancy Yeaton and her husband, Leslie, of Keene, N.H.; two sons, Ralph E. Murray Jr. of Costigan, and Francis Murray and his wife, Rena, of Milford; eight grandchildren, Karen and her husband, Andy, Chris, Jason, Staci and her husband, O’Keefe, Renee and husband, Dave, Kristi, Jasmyn, and Adam; five great-grandchildren, Matthew, Christene, Ryan, Dylan, and Hunter; four brothers, Norman Murray and his wife, Virginia, of Holden, Simon “Joe” Murray and his wife, Freda, of Milford, Thomas Murray of Philadelphia, Penn., James Murray and his special friend, Lois, of Old Town; three sisters, Beverly Comeau and her husband, Joseph, of Ellsworth, Mary Avery and her husband, Francis, of Old Town, Pauline Kearney of Old Town; a special companion, Maxine Freese, of Brewer; two special sisters-in-law, Barbara Murray and Grace Murray; a special brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Virginia Foss; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by five brothers, Robert, Charles, Paul, John, and Percy “Scotty” Murray; and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl (Rand) Murray. The family wishes to send a special thank you to Shaun O’Connor and Dr. Christopher Ritter of Old Town Family Practice and to Home Health and Hospice of St. Joseph. Friends may call 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town where a funeral service will be conducted 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Bruce Stevens, officiating. Immediately following the service, the family invites all to join them for conversation and refreshments at the Penobscot Riverhouse Community Room. Interment will be at a later date at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. Memorial contributions may be sent to Home Health and Hospice of St. Joseph 900 Broadway Building 1, Bangor ME 04401 <
RALPH E. ‘JAKE’ MURRAY SR.
