Dr. John J. Murray Jr.

MURRAY, Dr. John J. Jr. Died on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, at his home on Sand Key, Clearwater. He had been ill with cancer for seven months. Dr. Murray was born in Providence, RI on April 30, 1925. He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College, in Hanover, NH, his D.M.D. from Tufts University School of Dentistry in Boston, MA, and a post-doctoral Masters Degree in Pedodontics (Dentistry for Children) from The University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Murray established a Department of Pedodontics at Baylor University College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX, and later served as a director of the Mott Foundation Pediatric Dental Clinic in Flint, MI. He conducted a private practice in Pedodontics in Flint, MI for over 25 years. He retired in 1986 and moved with his wife to Clearwater. Dr. Murray was a member of the Saint Brendan's Catholic Church and their Navigator Men's Club. He was a Third and Forth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Michigan Dental Society, the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pedodontics. He was a member of Belleair Country Club, a member and a past Commodore of the Island Estates Yacht Club, the Tuesday Night Bridge Club and several local duplicate bridge clubs. He was a member of the Clearwater Beach Rotary and the Navy League. Dr. Murray served in the United States Navy during WWII. John Murray is survived by his wife of 58 years, Theresa (Curley) Murray; daughter Maureen Murray Aughton of Naples, FL; sons John Murray of East Lansing, MI and Paul Murray and his wife Diana Murray of Naples. He is further survived by grandchildren Lindsay, David and Mark Aughton, Brian and Kevin Murray and Lisa and Christopher Murray. Visitation will be at Moss-Feaster Serenity Gardens, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 33774, on Wednesday, Feb. 18th at 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 am, on Thursday, Feb. 19th at St. Brendan's Catholic Church at 245 Dory Passage, on Island Estates, Clearwater, FL 33767.