William "Morgan" Murray III

William (Morgan) Murray III, 43, of Fayetteville, NC, passed away on Friday, January 30, 2026. Born on February 24, 1982, in Fayetteville, NC, he was the son of William (Bill) Murray and Linda Matthews. Morgan graduated from South View High School and pursued a career as a Master Tattoo Artist. He worked as a Fine Arts Tattooer for over twenty years and took great pride in creating one-of-a-kind tattoo designs that demonstrated his commitment to craft. He produced unique, non-reproducible art works that reflected a personal, distinct, and bespoke style.

Morgan proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Iraq War, earning the Purple Heart for his bravery and combat injuries. Decorations include: Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, and Iraq Campaign Medal.

He attended the highly regarded Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts, authored several books, commissioned artworks, and was a member of the Freemasonry in North Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Murray; beloved daughter, Kaylei Murray (Noelia); sister, Rebecca Unser (Travis); stepfather, William (Bill) Matthews; stepson, Ashton Eldridge (Danielle); and extended family and many dear friends (Chop Shop Tattoo in Hope Mills, NC). He was preceded in death by his father, William (Bill) Murray; mother, Linda Matthews; and brother, William M. Murray II.

An inurnment service will be held at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, NC and a celebration of Morgan's life will be held at a later date - additional information will be provided via the online obituary.