Willie Thorp Murray

Memorial Service for Willie Murray, 90 of Nacogdoches will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at Chireno Methodist Church with Bro. Ronny Sowell officiating.

Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 11:00am prior to service. Mrs. Murray passed away in San Augustine, Tx on Thursday, January 1, 2026. She was born on June 9, 1935 to Roy and Bernice Atkinson in Chireno, Tx.

Willie Murray was a woman of great character, full of life and loved her community of Chireno very much. She was honest, devoted and affectionately known as "Aunt Willie" to everyone. She was married to Jimmy Thorp and during their marriage, they lived in Oklahoma while he was in the military. After she lost Jimmy, she returned to her beloved Chireno where she called home. As fate would have it, she then was blessed to have a second love. She and Robert Murray were sweethearts when they were in 3rd grade and after the loss of their spouses, they unexpectedly ran into each other at the Chireno Café and rekindled that childhood friendship. They enjoyed each other very much at a time in their lives when they needed one another. They were married and spent the next 12 years traveling and enjoying what they loved. After Robert's passing, Aunt Willie continued her love of travel and took every chance given to her to see the country. She also bestowed her enthusiasm for travel to her niece Pam. She and Pam had many adventures that will surely serve as wonderful memories.

Aunt Willie was dedicated to all things "Chireno". She held the position of Tax Assessor Collector of Chireno where she retired after it was taken over by the county. She then went to work for the City of Chireno and retired once more after more than 40 years of service to her hometown. She was a member of the Chireno Historical Society, a board member of Lower Chireno Cemetery, member of Chireno Methodist Church and a proud member of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas for over 50 years.

She is survived by her niece, Pam Mora and family; great nephew, Shane Atkinson Martin, Sr & wife Rebecca and their family; stepson, Bobby Murray & wife Patty, stepbrother John Ragland, Sr. & wife Melba and her aunts Doris Bentley and Betty Lytle. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews in the Thorp family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Bernice Atkinson; husbands, Jimmy Thorp and Robert Murray; sister, May Atkinson Mora and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Hicks.