Jean Hilary Murray

Jean was born on October 25, 1942, in Clacton-on-Sea, England, to her single mother, Johannah Begley, during the height of World War II, alongside her three older sisters. Her mother, a fiercely independent Irish woman who emigrated to the UK in search of a better life for herself and her sisters, shaped who Jean was at her core. Jean remained deeply devoted to her mother throughout her life. Named by her eldest sister Norah after her favorite actress, Jean carried her British roots with her proudly. At 19, she bravely moved to New York on her own to work as an au pair, beginning a life defined by independence, resilience, and adventure.

Soon after arriving in the United States, Jean reunited with her sister Norah at Oscoda Air Force Base in Michigan. While working as a waitress at a local diner, she met a young man named Lawrence (Larry) Murray. He would later recall how she called him “love” the first night they met, thinking she was flirting, not yet realizing she called everyone that. There was an immediate spark. Although he initially insisted he wasn’t ready for marriage, love had other plans. They married on February 25, 1963, beginning a partnership that would span 63 devoted years and serve as a model of enduring love to all who knew them.

Together, Jean and Larry built a life that took them across the United States and abroad, including Michigan, Indiana, New York, Maryland, London, Connecticut, and ultimately Florida. No matter where they went, Jean created a warm and welcoming home for their four children, grounding her family with consistency, care, and deep love.

Jean was endlessly devoted to her family and was adored by all who knew her, especially her nieces and nephews, to whom she was everyone’s favorite “Auntie.” Loyal to her core and always thinking of others first, she had a gift for making people feel special. She was known for her joyful surprises, whether showing up unexpectedly to celebrate a milestone or wrapping dozens of thoughtful gifts to mark birthdays in unforgettable ways.

A passionate traveler and natural organizer, Jean turned her love of exploring the world into a career as a travel agent. She created countless trips and memories for her family and sisters, especially treasured journeys back to England to be with her mother. She was fearless in her travels, undeterred even by driving on the “wrong side of the road,” and took great joy in ensuring that everyone around her had a wonderful experience. Her years living in London while supporting her husband’s career were among the happiest of her life, allowing her to remain close to her mother and travel extensively throughout Europe.

Jean also found joy in life’s simple pleasures. She was an avid walker, finding new lifelong friendships along her way. A lover of good food and good manners, teaching her husband and children the proper way to use a knife and fork, and someone who carried her British identity with pride in everything she did. She was often the first on the dance floor, especially when dancing “the twist” and “the jitterbug” with Larry at weddings and celebrations, a reflection of the joy and connection they shared.

Jean, along with her beloved husband Larry, was a devout Catholic. Her faith was a quiet but constant presence in her life, not defined by strict doctrine, but by compassion, resilience, and a deep belief in the power of prayer. It brought her strength in difficult moments and grounded her in gratitude, love, and service to others.

Above all, Jean’s life was defined by love, for her husband, her children, her extended family, and the many friends whose lives she touched. Her marriage of 63 years stood as a testament to her belief that nothing matters more than family.

Jean is survived by her beloved husband, Larry; her children, Teresa (partner Roy), Todd (wife Kelly), and Sean (husband Michael); her grandchildren, Amber (husband Michael; children Rayleigh, Brody, and Hadley), Tess, Kevin (wife Samantha; child Jackson), Kory, Matthew (wife Brooke), and Kelly; and her sisters Anne (Norah) and Patricia. She was predeceased by her son Gregory and his husband Jim, as well as her sister Ruth.

A memorial celebration in Jean’s honor will be held on April 18, 2026, at Blount & Curry Carrollwood Funeral Home in Tampa, Florida, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

A memorial Mass will be held on May 7, 2026, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, Connecticut, at 10:00 AM, followed by interment at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest alongside her son Gregory and his husband Jim. A luncheon reception will follow.

In honoring Jean’s life, her family encourages everyone to hold their loved ones close, to listen to their stories, and to cherish the time you have together. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for a donation in Jean's honor be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org.

Jean, Jeanie Beanie, Auntie Jean, Mom, Mummy, Nanny…we will forever carry you in our hearts.