HOULTON and VIRGINIA – Orland (Audie) W. Murray, 61, passed peacefully to heaven Feb. 17, 2009, at a Fredericksburg, Va., hospital, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born Dec. 10, 1947, in Danforth, the son of Vaughn L. and Barbara (Gilpatrick) Murray. Orland attended schools in Houlton and joined the U.S. Navy in 1966. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill., in 1967, third highest in a class of 90 in the field of radar. After his discharge from the Navy, he worked various jobs until the early 1970s when he went to work for the Maine Boundary Commission and from there to a career with the U.S. government. He worked nearly 30 years for the Department of Commerce in the field of geodetic surveying. He won awards, but was most proud of his Bronze Medal Award for superior federal service, which his mother proudly displays on her living room wall. Throughout his career he visited all 50 states with Alaska being the last one. Orland had many interests and hobbies including drawing, art, reading and building scale model cars and planes with great detail. His great love was car racing, both Formula 1 and NASCAR. His latest interest was in becoming a great cook, which he so enjoyed. Orland will be missed by many, but none more than his brother, Eric, who he shared a home with, and his mother and sister who he called almost daily. He was always encouraging to others, never complained about his illness and never once gave up hope that a healing would come to him. Orland is survived by his mother, Barbara Murray; his sister, Connie Van Dykes, both of Houlton; his brother, Eric Murray of Woodford, Va., who was not only his brother, but his best friend and constant care giver throughout his illness; two nieces, Barbara Jones and Nancy Clifford, both of Houlton; a great-nephew, Collin Clifford; many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Vaughn L. Murray. The family thanks Mary Washington Hospice of Fredericksburg, Va., for their wonderful home care given to Orland in recent weeks and CW Edward Funeral Home, Bowling Green, Va., for their help and preparation for Orland’s transfer to Maine. Graveside services will be announced at a later date. Gifts may be made in Orland’s memory to the Cancer Research or the charity of one’s choice, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730.
ORLAND W. MURRAY
