Clyde Andrew Murray

Murray, Clyde Andrew
age 86 of Huntsville, Texas, passed away on Saturday, November 21, 2015, with his daughter by his side. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Huntsville, Texas. Clyde Murray was a loving father, grandfather, and friend. He was born on a farm in the Round Prairie Community in the northwest part of Walker County, Texas, on December 22, 1928, to the late Andrew Jefferson Murray and Thelma Jeanette Anderson Murray. He attended country schools at Round Prairie, Crabbs Prairie, and Sion. In 1946, he graduated from Huntsville High School where he developed an interest in journalism which he studied at Sam Houston State Teachers College. In 1951, he was drafted into the Army and served as a combat correspondent in Korea with the 45th Division. His articles on the war appeared in the Stars and Stripes, wire services, and hometown newspapers. His last news assignment in the military was covering Operation Little Switch, the exchange of wounded POW's with North Korea. For his work as a correspondent in a combat area, he was awarded the bronze star. Mr. Murray was a journalist whose career spanned more than fifty years. Following the war, he worked on Texas newspapers in Baytown, Conroe, and Corsicana. In 1963, he earned a B.S. degree in journalism from East Texas State University, Commerce. In 1957, he married Jo Ondrusek of Rosenberg, Texas, and, in 1962, a daughter, Sarah Hollis Murray, was born. Later, in 1964, the couple was blessed with a son, Andrew Keller Murray. For the next two decades, Mr. Murray lived and worked in Arizona. His seven years with the Arizona Republic brought him a major award in news writing. In 1970, he became Public Information Officer for Maricopa County. During his tenure with Maricopa County, he was also a writer for Collier's Yearbook, a feature writer for the U.S. Information Service, and discussion leader for the Great Books Program. He also served as the National President of the National Association of County Information Officer and was President of Sigma Delta Chi, Phoenix Valley of the Sun Chapter. Upon leaving Maricopa County, he became editor for the Samaritan Health News, a corporate newspaper in Phoenix. He also worked as a teacher and advisor for a community college in Maricopa County. Mr. Murray moved from Arizona to Texas in 1980's where he contributed several columns to the Huntsville Item. In 2000, he received a distinguished alumni award in the field of journalism. He also became a member of the First Christian Church and a member of the Walker County Historical Commission. Clyde Andrew Murray is survived by his two loving children, Sarah Hollis Murray and Andrew Keller Murray, his wife Bobbie, and 4 grandchildren to include Rachael Grace Murray, Meagan Anne Murray, Skye Ariana Murray, and Jackson Edward Murray. He is also survived by a brother, Anderson Oneal Murray and his wife Wanda; niece Leslie Murray Bochniak, her husband Philip, and their daughter Erin Oneal; nephew Michael Oneal Murray, his wife Whitney, and their son Michael Oneal along with many dear and loved extended family members and friends. Donations can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or to the First Christian Church of Huntsville, Texas. Full obituary may be viewed and memorial condolences made to the family at www.shmfo