Cyr Richard Murray

Cyr Richard Murray, age 64, passed away in the early morning on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, after a three-year battle with esophageal adenocarcinoma. He wanted to be known for being helpful.
Born in Blawnox to Warren and Pat Murray in August 1961, he was the seventh of ten children. He lived most of his life here but spent his thirties living in Denver, CO. He graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School and was a cook for thirty years, most notably at Abaté and Dietch's Bar. Many knew him by a nickname, "Schmangie".
Cyr was an old soul with a flip phone waiting for the daily mail to be delivered. He loved the company of his elders, writing lists so he didn't forget anything, dad jokes and pranks, watching John Wayne movies, MASH and his favorite, The Price is Right. He was an avid fisherman and looked forward to annual trips to Erie with his brothers. In recent years, he loved fishing at North Park with his great nephews and niece and going to southeast Texas to see family and the ocean.
Cyr always brought his family together for monthly birthdays, Sunday dinners and every holiday. He was often quiet in a crowd but loved to be surrounded by people. He was known for making the family recipes of meat pie, potato salad, nut tarts and bread loaf stuffing, to name a few. Cyr loved drinking hot tea, Pepsi and eating double chocolate brownies. He loved calling his cousin, Barb, every day. He inherited the tradition of cooking corn at the annual Walmsley Family Reunion from Uncle Jim.
During the last twenty years, Cyr became a caregiver to his Mother until her passing in 2011. He then turned to service of others, spending his days caring for elderly neighbors in Blawnox, each of whom he became a companion to. Every day he could be seen walking to the gas station for scratch-off tickets, stopping by each house to collect garbage bins, shovel snow, blow leaves or whatever else was needed. Mostly, he was there to visit and be a friend.
During his valiant effort with cancer, Cyr remained positive and hopeful, drinking as many protein shakes as possible. He made many friends and was the best patient. Known as "Hurry Murray", because he was always in a hurry, arrived early, and then had to wait. He was open to intense, innovative treatment to the very end that included three trial drug studies. Cyr's family is eternally grateful for the care he received at UPMC St. Margaret, UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Hillman Center.
Cyr is now in heaven fishing with his late brothers, Ed, Warren and Joe Murray along with his brothers in law, John Kevin MacZura and Dan Guardalebene. Also preceded in death by his parents, Warren Murray and Patricia Walmsley Murray, and sister-in-law, Karen Murray. He has missed them all dearly.
He is survived by his siblings, Jean Pecman, sister-in-law Michelle Murray, Mary and Larry Celender, Tom and Nancy Murray, Brian and Debbie Murray, Cajie Murray, Patty Murray and Pam Guardalebene. Adored uncle to Marty and Morgan Pecman, Jennifer MacZura, Heather Ann Murray, John MacZura and Angela Stutzman, Nikki MacZura, Eddie Murray, Larry and Jackie Celender, Nicole Celender and Dan Knorr, Michael Murray and Haleigh Thompson, Stacie Celender, Blakey Murray, Brittany Caldwell and Nick Fabyanic, Taylor and Matt Gill, and Michelle Guardalebene.
Great Uncle to his biggest fans John Carl, Mark, Emily and Ian MacZura, Julia Stutzman, Savannah Pecman, Colton Murray, Jake and Louie Celender.
Visitation will be on World Kindness Day, Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at THOMAS M. SMITH FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY LTD., 930 Center Ave., Blawnox, where final prayer service will be held at 7:45 p.m.
The Murray Family welcomes everyone for a meal between visitation (4-6 p.m.) at Hoboken Presbyterian Church, 921 North Ave, Blawnox, PA 15238 in the church hall.