Dale Junior Murray
April 4, 1930 — May 5, 2018
Dale Junior Murray, son of Martin Dale and Edith (Guss) Murray, was born on April 4, 1930 near Irwin, Iowa. He attended school in Irwin and graduated from Irwin High School with the class of 1950. After high school, Junior continued to help on his parents farm until his enlistment in the United States Navy on December 15, 1950 in Des Moines, Iowa.
While in the Navy, Junior served overseas during the Korean War with much of his time aboard the USS Bryce Canyon a Shenandoah class destroyer. During his service he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal as well as the Korean Service Medal. Junior was honorably discharged on October 5, 1954 at the U. S. Naval receiving station in Long Beach, California. Upon his discharge, Junior returned home to Iowa to help his father on their family farm.
Junior then started working for Farmer’s Coop Creamery out of Kimballton, Iowa with his own milk route. He also drove truck for the Palmer Wiuff Farm transporting cattle to the west coast. On May 7, 1957, Junior was united in marriage to Donna Jean Heese at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. They were the parents of four children: Kathy, Jerry, David and Marty. Junior then went to work for the Petersen Brother’s in Jacksonville, Iowa running their corn sheller and hauling cattle.
He always enjoyed driving truck and continued doing so for the I & K Elevator out of Irwin hauling grain throughout the Midwest. He then went to work for Western Engineering out of Harlan where he drove truck for several years before his retirement in 1995. A few years after the death of Donna Jean in 1998, Junior moved into the Westridge Apartments in Harlan and this has been his home since that time.
Junior died on May 5, 2018 at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan having attained the age of eighty-eight years one month and one day. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers James Murray, Rae Murray and son-in-law Lloyd Houston.
He is survived by his children: Kathy Houston of Walnut, Iowa; Jerry Murray and his wife Cathy of Harlan; David Murray of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Marty Murray of Scranton, Iowa; 7 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; his brother Walter Murray and his wife June of Irwin, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
An 11:00 AM Graveside Service was officiated by Deacon Pat Davitt on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa. John Houston, Phillip Houston, Brad Murray, Ryan Murray, Kaitlin Murray, Dalton Murray, and Samantha Murray served as honorary casket bearers. Mike Smith, Sam Heese, Dana Tuma, Kevin Krohn, Ron Murray, Roger McIntosh, and William Carter served as casket bearers. Military Rites were conducted by Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 and Shelby County VFW Post No. 941.
While in the Navy, Junior served overseas during the Korean War with much of his time aboard the USS Bryce Canyon a Shenandoah class destroyer. During his service he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal as well as the Korean Service Medal. Junior was honorably discharged on October 5, 1954 at the U. S. Naval receiving station in Long Beach, California. Upon his discharge, Junior returned home to Iowa to help his father on their family farm.
Junior then started working for Farmer’s Coop Creamery out of Kimballton, Iowa with his own milk route. He also drove truck for the Palmer Wiuff Farm transporting cattle to the west coast. On May 7, 1957, Junior was united in marriage to Donna Jean Heese at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. They were the parents of four children: Kathy, Jerry, David and Marty. Junior then went to work for the Petersen Brother’s in Jacksonville, Iowa running their corn sheller and hauling cattle.
He always enjoyed driving truck and continued doing so for the I & K Elevator out of Irwin hauling grain throughout the Midwest. He then went to work for Western Engineering out of Harlan where he drove truck for several years before his retirement in 1995. A few years after the death of Donna Jean in 1998, Junior moved into the Westridge Apartments in Harlan and this has been his home since that time.
Junior died on May 5, 2018 at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan having attained the age of eighty-eight years one month and one day. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers James Murray, Rae Murray and son-in-law Lloyd Houston.
He is survived by his children: Kathy Houston of Walnut, Iowa; Jerry Murray and his wife Cathy of Harlan; David Murray of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Marty Murray of Scranton, Iowa; 7 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; his brother Walter Murray and his wife June of Irwin, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
An 11:00 AM Graveside Service was officiated by Deacon Pat Davitt on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa. John Houston, Phillip Houston, Brad Murray, Ryan Murray, Kaitlin Murray, Dalton Murray, and Samantha Murray served as honorary casket bearers. Mike Smith, Sam Heese, Dana Tuma, Kevin Krohn, Ron Murray, Roger McIntosh, and William Carter served as casket bearers. Military Rites were conducted by Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 and Shelby County VFW Post No. 941.
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