Sherman L. "Mack" McMurray

Sherman L. ‘Mack’ McMurray, 82, of Wichita Falls passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2014. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 29, 2014 at First Christian Church, 3701 Taft Blvd. with Dr. David Hartman officiating. Interment will follow in the Veteran’s Garden of Crestview Memorial Park with military honors rendered by the U. S. Air Force Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 7:00 until 8:00 Friday evening at the funeral home.

Mr. McMurray was born March 23, 1932 in Fort Worth, TX to the late Oran S. and Ethel W. (Henley) McMurray. He was raised in Dallas, TX from age 5 and was in the ROTC and was a Cadet Major Instructor in his final year of school. He played baseball for a church league and later played for a semi-pro team in Dallas. He joined the U. S. Naval Air Reserve and was activated for Korea in 1951, assigned to the USS Boxer. Mack later was discharged and worked for Braniff Airways where he met and married his first wife.

Mr. McMurray joined the U. S. Air Force in 1954. During his career he had many assignments: Big Spring, TX, Germany, Libya, back to Berlin, Shreveport, LA, Maywood, CA, Albuquerque, NM, Tokyo, Japan (serving there in the Office of Special Investigations), Clovis, NM, Denver, CO, Montgomery, AL and finally to Sheppard AFB where he retired as a Tech Sgt. In 1974. Mack loved baseball and continued playing while in the Air Force. He later managed a motel in Farmington, NM, was a grocer in Wichita Falls and managed a resort ranch in Bandera, TX. He served as a custodian at First United Methodist Church from 1987 to 1994 and was a Commander in the Texas State Guard from 1976 to 1987.

Mack was a member of First Christian Church of Wichita Falls and also a member of American Legion Post #169, the NRA and TSRA. He was proud of his accomplishments; serving his country during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, a Military Instructor, Commander of the Texas State Guard Military Police and volunteering for the Red Cross.

Mack loved to dance and enjoyed the Senior Zone regularly. One thing he held dear was being named King of the Seniors Prom in 2010 with his beautiful Queen, Betty Lyons who was, among “everything else”, his dance partner. He had many talents few knew of. He played guitar and sang with a voice similar to Hank Williams, Sr., was a good artist and did many western sketches and was an Expert Marksman.

Of all that he was proud of, he considered his biggest accomplishment to be his family and children. He set an example of patience, teaching them the lessons of life, preparing them to cope with difficulties and disappointments and, all the while, giving them love and encouragement to overcome any weaknesses. He enriched the lives of those lucky enough to know him with his love, gentleness, openness and warmth, asking little in return.

Mr. McMurray was preceded in death by his parents and his second wife, Dottie Hardin McMurray.

Surviving are his children; Sherman D. McMurray, Ken McMurray and Penny McMurray, all of Dallas; seven grandchildren; six great grandchildren; step-son, Jim Tom Hardin and wife, Kay and their children, son, Scott and wife, Rebecca and daughter, Lindy; step-son Gary Hardin and children Bryan and Denise.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, The American Red Cross, Air Force Memorial Foundation, Father Flannigan’s Boys Town, Cal Farley Boys Ranch or the Human Society.

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