Thomas Allan Murray
August 21, 1940 — January 15, 2017
REV. THOMAS ALLAN MURRAY
was born August 21, 1940 in W. Palm Beach and passed away Sunday, January 15, 2017. Tom attended Seacrest High School and graduated from Marion Military Institute. Always an efficient planner, on the same day, May 4, 1963, he graduated from Univ. of Florida with a degree in Horticulture, was inducted as an officer in the US Army, and married his college sweetheart, Carolyn Cook. After rising to 1st Lt. in the Army and Captain in the Reserve, he joined his father and brothers at Allan Murray Nursery Inc., one of the first wholesale plant nurseries in Palm Beach County. In 1971, Tom found his true calling after accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior. For over 40 years, he has been a faithful, humble, servant of God spreading the gospel to as many as he could. He was ordained in the ministry in 1978 (Florida Bible College) and held various pastoral positions at local churches including Lake Worth Bible Church and Maranatha Bible Church. His home in Boynton Beach was the epicenter of many weekly "Ranch" youth groups and Bible Study meetings.
In addition to his sweet, loving, devoted wife of over 53 years, Carolyn, he is survived by his daughter Karen (Joe) Gretzula and son Todd (George) and his 2 much-loved grandchildren, Alexia and Tyler Gretzula. He also leaves behind his brothers "The Murray Boys": Dave (Lori), Don (Marilyn), and Ken (Jan) and host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and many great friends, hunting and fishing buddies, and fellow believers.
After an 8 year battle with cancer, he is finally free of pain and is reunited with his parents, Allan and Frances and with his Saviour in heaven. While we celebrate his life and look forward to seeing him again, we will miss his playful, mischievous, compassionate and loving spirit! Thank you to his doctors and TrustBridge Hospice team for your gentle care of "Captain" and "Pastor" in his final days on earth. Rejoice, the Lord has called him home. His favorite verses are John 3:16, John 6:47, Ephesians 2:8-9, and I John 5:13. His last wish was to share God's greatest gift with you: May you too believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, as God who died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again the third day, and accept His free gift of eternal life.
Friends will be received from 9:00 AM until the service time at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 at Maranatha Bible Church, 900 South Broadway, Lantana, Florida. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, West Palm Beach, Florida.
was born August 21, 1940 in W. Palm Beach and passed away Sunday, January 15, 2017. Tom attended Seacrest High School and graduated from Marion Military Institute. Always an efficient planner, on the same day, May 4, 1963, he graduated from Univ. of Florida with a degree in Horticulture, was inducted as an officer in the US Army, and married his college sweetheart, Carolyn Cook. After rising to 1st Lt. in the Army and Captain in the Reserve, he joined his father and brothers at Allan Murray Nursery Inc., one of the first wholesale plant nurseries in Palm Beach County. In 1971, Tom found his true calling after accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior. For over 40 years, he has been a faithful, humble, servant of God spreading the gospel to as many as he could. He was ordained in the ministry in 1978 (Florida Bible College) and held various pastoral positions at local churches including Lake Worth Bible Church and Maranatha Bible Church. His home in Boynton Beach was the epicenter of many weekly "Ranch" youth groups and Bible Study meetings.
In addition to his sweet, loving, devoted wife of over 53 years, Carolyn, he is survived by his daughter Karen (Joe) Gretzula and son Todd (George) and his 2 much-loved grandchildren, Alexia and Tyler Gretzula. He also leaves behind his brothers "The Murray Boys": Dave (Lori), Don (Marilyn), and Ken (Jan) and host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and many great friends, hunting and fishing buddies, and fellow believers.
After an 8 year battle with cancer, he is finally free of pain and is reunited with his parents, Allan and Frances and with his Saviour in heaven. While we celebrate his life and look forward to seeing him again, we will miss his playful, mischievous, compassionate and loving spirit! Thank you to his doctors and TrustBridge Hospice team for your gentle care of "Captain" and "Pastor" in his final days on earth. Rejoice, the Lord has called him home. His favorite verses are John 3:16, John 6:47, Ephesians 2:8-9, and I John 5:13. His last wish was to share God's greatest gift with you: May you too believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, as God who died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again the third day, and accept His free gift of eternal life.
Friends will be received from 9:00 AM until the service time at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 at Maranatha Bible Church, 900 South Broadway, Lantana, Florida. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, West Palm Beach, Florida.
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