Murray Lee Wheatley

Murray Lee Wheatley, age 92, of Memphis, Tennessee passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024. Born in Lexington, TN on April 11, 1931 to the late James and Ruby Wheatley, he graduated Lexington High School in 1950 and joined the Tennessee National Guard. After 3 years, Murray enlisted in the US Air Force and served his country for 4 years. Mr. Wheatley worked as a diesel mechanic for Trailways and Detroit Diesel until his retirement in 1996. He loved fishing, bowling, reading western novels, watching sports on television (especially the Memphis Tigers), and spending time with his family.

Mr. Wheatley was preceded in death by his parents; two children, Cristi Lea Wheatley and Terry Russell Wheatley; four siblings, Thomas Earl Wheatley, Shelby Jean Wheatley, Etta Sue Wheatley, and Charles Edward Wheatley.

Murray is survived by his wife of 52 years, Laura Byrum Wheatley; four children, Don Wheatley (Kil Ye), Theresa Pirtle Stewart (Tom), Debbie Pirtle Mokry (Ken), and Dennis Pirtle (Jennifer); eleven grandchildren, Ben Mokry (Jaki), Angela Wheatley, James Wheatley, Carl Stewart, Brian Stewart, Justin Pirtle, Heather Sharp (Glenn), Brandon Pirtle, Jackson Pirtle, Jake Pirtle, and Dennis Pirtle, Jr; twelve great grandchildren, Hannah Mokry, Emma Mokry, Wynn Mokry, Molly Mokry, Reba Pirtle, Winston Pirtle, Terry Glenn Sharp, John Sharp, Audrey Pirtle, Cohen Pirtle, Violet Pirtle, and Lilly Pirtle; and two sisters, Peggy Jean Wheatley Bennett (Richard) and Ruth Ann Wheatley Vanelli (Joe).

The family will gather to receive friends on Thursday, January 25, at 9:30 a.m., and a Celebration of Life service will begin at 11:00 a.m., at Collierville Funeral Home, 3865 Bailey Station Road. A reception will follow. Interment will be in the Palestine Church Cemetery in Lexington, TN at 3:00 p.m.

Lasting memorials in Murray's memory may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.