Charles Andrew "Charley" Murray

Charley Murray, beloved and faithful family patriarch and parishioner of St. Clement of Rome for 51 years, peacefully ascended to his heavenly place on Monday, February 1st, at 12:45 am. Born in New Orleans on April 26, 1925, Charley devoted his life to bringing joy and love to his friends, family and complete strangers. His time spent working to help St. Michael's Special School and St. Vincent DePaul are but a couple of examples that exhibited his passion for helping those in need. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Fireman 2nd Class during World War II, where he strengthened his already gritty work ethic and character by applying his determination and unselfish concern for others. As a steadfast Catholic throughout his life, Charley would serve in the Knights of Columbus as Faithful Navigator, William J. Guste Assembly No. 331, as well as Grand Knight for two councils, Ludivicum Council No. 4663 (charter member) and Father Seelos Council Hall No. 2878 in Metairie, where he has touched the hearts and minds of thousands of men. As a Man of Manresa and Past President of Ironworkers Union Local 58, he offered decades of firm, yet friendly handshakes to many who shared his faith and tireless work ethic. Over the years, Charley would instruct his daughters and grandchildren on how to properly seek out and land a redfish in a Louisiana bayou secretly named "Murray's Cut." The camp he designed like a fortress and built by hand in the late '60s was filled with laughter, great food and camaraderie for decades. It still stands defiantly on Chenière Island near Grand Isle, despite Katrina's best punch. Referred to fondly as "Paw Paw," he always had his unique way of showing love to everyone, without a profane word or a bitter tongue – always leading by example as a strong model of a Christian man with a zest for life to match. He would like that we're describing him as a model, because his old reliable quips were often about "not messing up his hair" or to jest that something was his make-believe color: "sky blue pink!" Never a day passed when his sense of humor failed to crack a wry smile from a quick joke. Although sacrifice and toughness were at his core, he regularly reminded us in a lighthearted way by saying that "the first hundred years are the hardest." He proved that spreading joy was an important part of our mission while here on earth, even if that meant all of us dressing up in makeshift costumes created from garbage bags for Thoth, Mid-City and Bacchus in the French Quarter before devoutly starting Lent. And despite Christmas being the most Holy time in our family, when Halloween came around in 1983, he masked as a skeleton, while playing a spooky-sounding organ, to help make the family "haunted garage" a good time for hundreds of neighborhood kids. Paw Paw was always willing to make it fun, and if necessary, a little silly. A smile on a child's face was always worth it to him. Charles A. Murray was preceded in death by his father, William E. Murray, mother, Grace Hassinger Murray, and his loving sisters and brothers, William E. Murray Jr., Audrey Schlaudecker, Grace Mayer, Richard Murray, Joseph Murray, Julia Corona and son-in-law Charles L. "Beetsie" Rainey, Jr. He is survived by loving sisters Mary Gentry, Antoinette Stall, sisters-in-law, Mary Murray, Julia Murray, brother-in-law, Jacob Mayer and by his beloved wife of 73 years, Beverly DeBuys Murray, daughters Linda Murray Rainey and Diane Murray Johnson, her husband, Carney Johnson, grandson, Michael Charles Rainey, his wife Shelley Flanagan Rainey, great granddaughters Emma Michelle Rainey and Clara Grace Rainey. He is also survived by grandson, Darren James Vogt, his wife Trisha Morris Vogt and their son Cameron and daughter Erin. Survived by granddaughter, Darnell Vogt Burgess, sons Cannon and Carter Burgess and Coty Babin, his wife Traci Babin and great-great grandson, Cole Babin. Survived by his youngest grandson, David Charles Rainey. Visitation will be held Thursday, February 4th, 5:30 pm-10:00 pm at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Blvd., Metairie. There will be a 2nd visitation on Friday, February 5th, at Leitz-Eagan from 8:30 am to 11:00 am with a Funeral Mass at 11:00 am in the Leitz-Eagan Chapel and a brief graveside service following at Greenwood Cemetery, 120 City Park Avenue, New Orleans. Condolences may be offered online at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.