Douglas Murray

Douglas S. Murray VIRGINIA BEACH - Douglas Samuel Murray was born Jan. 6, 1922, in Sultana, Calif., the son of Samuel Walter Murray and Annice Leone Manwiller Murray, both deceased. Doug was a graduate of Occidental College, a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and active in sports, music and drama, and elected to an honors fraternity. He worked his way through Occidental as well as the Harvard Business School. Following graduation from the business school, he entered active duty in the Navy subsequently serving during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars. During his more than 26 years of active duty, he served as supply officer on navy ships, the last being the USS Vulcan, AR5. He served as a Navy exchange officer Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Md. He developed procedures for the Navy takeover and operation of the MSTS vessel exchange service, operating the service in Seattle, Wash., 1950-52, during the Korean War. During this time he sang leads with the Seattle Summer Opera Company. This was followed by duty on staff, Commander Naval Forces, Philippines 1952-54, Supply Officer Naval Weapons Station, Earle, N.J., where he established the comptroller department. Following duty of the Vulcan, he served as officer in charge of the Atlantic Fleet Supply Overall program established and operated the Atlantic Fleet expendable ordinance inventory control system. He then served as assistant supply officer, then supply officer of the NATO base, U.S. Naval Station Keflavik, Iceland. Returning to Norfolk, he served in finance for the CINCLANT Fleet, culminating with design and staffing of the Fleet Resource Office for which he was awarded the Navy Commendation medal. Following Navy retirement in 1969, he served as general manager of Tidewater Burger King franchise and operation, followed by cost controller assistant to the president of Green Run Corp. of Virginia Beach, then concluded his public career by serving 13 years as director of Finance and Administration and treasurer of the Virginia Port Authority. He later said that although he enjoyed the challenges in port unification and revenue bond for terminal improvements, his greatest personal satisfaction came from breaking the color barrier in hiring for the Virginia Port Authority staff. He and his beloved wife of almost 65 years, Beamie Murray, were active together in Boy and Girl Scout leadership at Bayside Presbyterian Church. Doug served as an elder at Bayside Presbyterian and on both major building committees. He personally raised funds for the church organ and sang for 59 years in the adult church choirs. He worked 39 years in Boy Scout leadership, holding offices including Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, members Tidewater Council BSA board member. He was awarded the PAVAB District Order of Meriat and the Silver Beaver. He and Beamie hosted the YMCA and about 1,000 children learning to swim in their private swimming pool over a 10-year period. Doug served as board member, Virginia Beach SPCA; president, Thoroughgood Civic League; president, St. Columba Ecumenical Ministries of Norfolk; and president, Douglas Realty Corp., building and operating the Coral Isle Motel Apartments in Norfolk, for nine years. He owned the gulf stream fishing board Chivas Regal operating out of Hatteras Inlet for six years. He was the active and sustaining member of many natural organizations working for quality of life and animal protection. He is survived by his dear wife of almost 65 years, Margaret Maitland Beamish "Beamie" Murray; a son, Michael Walter Murray, his wife Carol Murray, their sons, Brian Douglas and Gavin John Samuel Murray and his wife Rachel, all of Westlake Village, Calif.; son, Dr. Thomas Douglas Murray, his wife Alice Hill Murray and children Kimberly Foster Murray, Douglas Morgan Murray and Samuel Tucker Murray; daughter, Susan Walker Murray and daughter Nancy Beamish Murray and longtime friend, Robert Wise, all of Portland, Ore.; grandsons, Daniel Gunnard Beamish Gibson, his wife Alyson and their baby Madeline from New York and Jonathan Douglas Gibson of Portland. Mr. Murray was preceded in death by beloved daughters, Aleen Leone Murray and Kathleen Maitland "Perky" Murray Gibson. Memorial services will be held at Westminster Canterbury Monday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. Cremation Society of Virginia is assisting the family.