Edward F. Murray Jr.

Edward F. Murray, Jr., 96, of Homosassa, Florida passed away Friday, May 16, 2025 at the Cypress Cove Care Center in Crystal River after a recent illness. Ed was born on November 13, 1928, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Edward F. Murray, Sr. and Margaret Pender. He married Joan Mary Buckley in 1955, one year later they moved from Jersey City to Miami, where Ed began a long career with several airlines and later retired to Homosassa in 1991.

Ed served honorably for four years in the United States Air Force from 1949 – 1952 as an aircraft mechanic and electrician. He traveled around the World and throughout the United States. During his service, he went from enjoying himself on the beach in Puerto Rico in balmy 90-degree weather, to working on airplanes at a frigid 60 below zero in Fairbanks, Alaska. Wherever Ed traveled, it was always an adventure. He had many fond memories of his time in the Air Force as well as the places he had been stationed at, as well as with the many folks he met along the way.

Ed carried his experience and knowledge of aircraft forward into his career at the Miami International Airport. He held three aircraft maintenance licenses: American, British, and Dutch for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P). Ed had careers with various airlines, including BWIA and ALM Airlines. He spent many months in Amsterdam, Holland in training with KLM airlines to obtain his Dutch license, which was one of the most difficult licenses in the industry. Ten of his colleagues failed the training, but not Ed! He formed a small study group with other Operation Managers from all over the World. Every night after class they would meet back at their hotel for happy hour, having a beer and a few appetizers as they worked on their assignments for the following day.

There was nothing Ed could not do or repair. He was extremely resourceful in his abilities to find a solution in any issue, mechanical or electrical. He later became a Realtor and built several of his own homes from the ground up, performing his own electrical, plumbing and stonework, while overseeing the entire building project. Ed could repair everything with a little glue or duct tape.

Ed was one of a kind! He had a generous heart and was always the life of the party! He enjoyed football and was an avid Miami Dolphins fan. At one time he painted his Chevy Luv pickup truck aqua and orange from leftover aircraft paint from ALM airlines, as their planes were the same color. He was extremely frugal and often found creative uses for items that others would otherwise discard. A perfect example of his creativity was when his wife, Joan requested that they should go to the local Home Depot to purchase a bird bath. Instead of making the trip, to the store, Ed instead crafted a make-shift bird bath from a Direct-TV satellite dish!

He loved the water and in his younger days was always out fishing or taking his boat down the Homosassa River. Occasionally, he would venture out over 20 miles into the Gulf of America in a pontoon deck boat! He enjoyed working in the yard, cooking, classic movies, history and sci-fi (His all-time favorite show was The X-Files).

Edward (aka Mickey, Big Ed, and Fast Eddy), was predeceased by Joan M. Murray, his devoted and loving wife of 55 years and is survived by daughter Patricia Beizer Jones, Son-in-Law Clarke J. Jones, Jr., Former Son-in-Law Stephen M. Beizer (deceased), Son Edward F. Murray III, Daughter-in-Law Rita P. Murray, grandson, Brodey E. Murray, Step-Grandchildren, Logan A. Beizer (Laura Cromer), Jafer A. Beizer (Chanel Beizer), Morgan Beizer Adams and Step Great granddaughter, Audrey Adams, Sisters Kathleen P. Varroney, Elaine Murray Critelli, Ellen Timur, Margaret Dinardo (deceased) and numerous nieces, nephews, many friends, and of course Murray the Cat, who was named after him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 30, 2025 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 7040 S. Suncoast Blvd. Homosassa, Fl 34446 ., with Fr. Kevin Tortorelli, Celebrant. Catholic Rite of Committal and Military honors will follow at 12:30 pm at the Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd. Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513, with Deacon Mark Manko,The United States Air Force, and American Legion Post #155 in attendance..

Edward F. Murray, Jr.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend

November 13, 1928 – May 16, 2025

A life well lived, a heart well loved

In lieu of flowers, a donation in his memory may be made to the following charities below. However, flowers will be accepted at St. Thomas The Apostle Church as well.

Citizens Behind the Badge

• Nonprofit. Support the men and women in law enforcement.

https://www.behindbadge.org/

Pilots to the Rescue

• The Rescue is to prevent at-risk animals from being euthanized by transporting them via air and ground transportation to give them the best chance at adoption.

https://www.pilotstotherescue.org/

Tunnel to Towers Foundation

• Non-profit. Helping American heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

https://t2t.org/

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

• Non-profit. St. Jude specializes in care for some of the toughest pediatric cases, all while investing in resources and technologies for cutting-edge scientific research. And families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live. https://www.stjude.org/