FRANCIS MURRAY
Francis (Frank) A. Murray, age 87, passed away on Jan. 2, 2013 in his Green Valley, Ariz. home,
Mr. Murray was born in Detroit, MI on June 18, 1925, the only child of William & Violet Murray, and at age 18 he was drafted into the U.S. Navy in early 1943. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific and was aboard the USS Frankford DD-497, working in the destroyer's fire rooms and engine rooms. Mr. Murray was a lookout on the Frankford during the Normandy Invasion, spotting targets at Omaha Beach and telling U.S. Troops where to fire. Mr. Murray was also aboard the Frankford when it escorted President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a conference in the Mediterranean. Mr. Murray was a water tender 2nd Class when he was honorably discharged in May 1946.
Mr. Murray started work at Chrysler Corp. on Dec. 4 1946, married Anne Marie Chegash in February 1947 and retired as Power Plant Supervisor in July 1980. Mr. Murray was an active lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 2358 in Roseville, MI, where he held positions such as Commander and was also selected into the Military Order of the Cootie (MOC) and was also actively involved in various charities.
One of the accomplishments that Mr. Murray was extremely proud of was the cottage he, with the help of family and friends, built on Sanford Lake, MI in 1965. Family and friends have many cherished memories of summers filled with fishing, swimming, rides on the pontoon boat, water skiing, sand dunes and bon fires at night and in the winter sitting by the fireplace, ice skating, tobogganing and ice fishing.
After retirement, Mr. Murray and his wife Anne moved to Green Valley, Ariz. in 1983, where he was volunteer tour guide at Titan Missile Museum and was also a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 66 in Green Valley and was in charge of overseeing the weekly Bingo games. Mr. Murray was a dedicated husband and lost his wife Anne M. (Chegash) Murray in May 1996 after 49 years of marriage.
Mr. Murray also kept in touch with fellow shipmates throughout the years and actively participated in attending the USS Frankfort DD497 reunions.
In the last 12 years, Mr. Murray and partner Judith McDonald traveled around the United States in their RV to "See the World" with their beloved dog "Emmy Lou," whom he loved to walk and groom each day. Mr. Murphy and Judith McDonald were also members of the Green Valley Elks Lodge #2592. In the last year and half, when Mr. Murray's health began to fail, Judith McDonald was instrumental in taking care of him and helping him live as comfortable as possible.
Mr. Murray is survived by numerous nieces and nephews from his wife side of the family.
Mr. Murray was a true "American" and a Military Memorial Services will be held in Michigan later next month.
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Published in Green Valley News & Sun on Jan. 9, 2013
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