Gerald William Murray

Gerald William Murray, 84 passed away on June 10, 2025 following a lengthy illness. He was born March 23, 1941 at the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary in Portland, a son of the late William D. and Barbara Leighton Murray of Cape Elizabeth. He resided in the Cape Elizabeth town center his whole life either beside or across the street from the Town Hall. Gerry was the fifth generation of the Murray and Hannaford family of Cape Elizabeth. He attended Cape Elizabeth schools graduating from Cape high school in 1959. He went on to MVTI ( now SMCC), graduating in the second class of Culinary Arts. He married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Hope Smith in 1962. While at MVTI he worked in the summer for the Johnson family at Crescent Beach Inn as a cook and pastry chef. Oliver (Bill) Brisse, a French chef and instructor at MVTI was a great influence on his knowledge of French cuisine and guidance. After graduating from Culinary Arts, Gerry apprenticed at the Eastland Hotel under both the Rines Family and Dunfey Family who purchased the hotel. He apprenticed under a well- known German chef, Fritz Saul at the Dunfey Family Food and Beverage Management Program head quartered at Lamie’s Tavern and Inn of Hampton, New Hampshire. Upon returning to Maine, he was the head chef at Eastland Motor Hotel.

He later worked for Cummings Bros. on Commercial Street, a wholesale meat and provision company, as a buyer in the meat department. When George Lewis purchased Cummings Bros. he was transferred as a 4th class engineer for Cumberland Cold Storage. He later went to work for Cianbro Corp. in Portland as a construction foreman which was the roots of what his family had done for generations, building construction. In 1977 along with his wife he started G.W. Murray and Son, Inc. General Contractors. There he happily worked until his retirement in 2006. His whole life Gerry followed in the foot steps of his father, grandfather and uncles who had served as captains of Cape Elizabeth Fire Dept. Volunteer Hose Co. #2. He joined the fire dept. in 1959 and was a charter member forming what is now Cape Elizabeth Rescue Co. #3. He ended his service as captain after 54 years of dedicated service. Gerry built several houses in Cape Elizabeth, including his present home attached to a 1929 house built by his grandfather. His best times were spent entertaining family and friends at the lake house that he built on Watchic Lake in Standish in 1970. There were so many celebrations held there including the annual Fourth of July celebration. For many years he and Sharon enjoyed traveling in their motor home, spending winter months in Florida and traveling around the country. The best times were at Gray’s on Southport Island where the beach was at their front door and having the grandsons coming to visit where they made many friends. They spent some 25 years going there.

Gerry and Sharon also enjoyed going on 7 cruises, the longer the better. The most memorable were the two trips through the Panama Canal. For a number of years they enjoyed square and round dancing and made many good friends. They belonged to the Round Squares of Portland and the Rounduets Round Dance Club. One of Gerry’s life time hobbies was a collector of antique fire apparatus and memorabilia. He was a charter member of the Pine Tree Chapter of SPAAMFAA which was the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sharon Smith Murray of Cape Elizabeth, a son, William D. Murray and his wife Cathy of Watchic Lake, 2 grandsons, Tyler Jeffery Murray and his wife Jacinda of Lyman, Eric William Murray and his wife Kirby of Standish, 3 great grandchildren, Haven - May Murray, Oakleigh Wren Murray and Everett- John Murray, a sister, Betty Mullin of Scarborough and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Nancy Johnson.

A time of visitation will held on Tuesday June 17 from 3-6 PM at the Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. Graveside services will be held Wednesday, June 18 at 10:30 am at Riverside Cemetery, Cape Elizabeth. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Cape Elizabeth Fire Dept. Scholarship Fund , 2 Jordan Way, Cape Elizabeth Me. 04017.

Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to leave a tribute in Gerry’s memory.