Louis E. McMurray

1932 - 2020

Louis E. McMurray

Burlington, WA - Louis E. McMurray, artist and art instructor, died on Thursday, May 14, 2020 in Burlington, Washington of natural causes.

Mr. McMurray was born in Detroit on May 14, 1932. His parents were Louis E. McMurray and Hannah Nielsen. He graduated from Chadsey High School where he lettered in football and track. He served in the U.S. Air Force in North Africa during the Korean War. He studied art at Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts.

In 1956 he married Shirley Ann Weigand of Detroit. In the 1950s and 1960s, Mr. McMurray worked at a number of art studios in Detroit and New York City, including McNamara Associates and New Center Studios. In the late Sixties, he formed McMurray, Ryan & Connolly. He was a founding member of the Graphic Artists Guild. He worked at Wilding Advertising in Southfield, Michigan and Ross Roy Advertising in Detroit, and taught Art Direction at The Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. He was the recipient of numerous awards for his artwork, including Society of Illustrators, Art Directors Club of Detroit, and Art Directors Club of New York.

Mr. McMurray established a private studio in Orange County, California in the mid- Eighties. Among the work he produced at this time was a series of paintings of the Spanish missions of California.

He and his second wife, Joan Ladner McMurray moved to Dunedin, Florida in the early Nineties. He painted watercolors, made sculptures, and participated in art exhibitions around the country.

Mr. McMurray is survived by his sons Dr. Matthew McMurray of New York City; Martin McMurray of Ludington, Michigan; Bradley McMurray of Venice, Florida; Theodore McMurray of Eastsound, Washington and his wife, Augusta; daughter Heidi Williamson of Mount Vernon, Washington; and his grandchildren, Jacob, Henry and Uma.

Memorials may be donations to the Airman's Assistance Fund, USAF Veterans Wounded Airmen (afa.org) or the United General Hospital, ACU Unit Auxiliary Fund, Sedro Woolley, WA (Kbaker5@peacehealth.org). You may offer your condolences and share memories of Mr. McMurray to his family online at www.kernfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are through Kern Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, Washington.