Dan Roy Murry was born on July 29, 1937 in their family home in Athens, Texas to Roy and Grace Murry. He was the oldest of four sons who all grew up in Athens. Dan was surrounded by family in Plano, Texas when he passed away the evening of Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2019 at the age of 82 from heart failure after a long decline from Muscular Dystrophy. He didn’t let his illness get him down, as he found his identity in Christ, his Lord and Savior. He was saved at the age of eight years old at a summer Bible camp in East Texas. Dan loved The Lord, his family and our country, and he was a witness and servant leader to all who knew him.
He graduated from Athens High School, received an Associate’s Degree from Henderson County Junior College (presently Trinity Valley Community College), and completed a Bachelor’s Degree from Baylor University where he majored in history and religion. He attended Southwestern Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas where he studied religious education and later received his Master’s Degree from North Texas State University (presently UNT), where he specialized in school administration.
He met his wife, Ruby Lynn Roberts Murry, while he was at Baylor University, and they were married in 1961 during his senior year. In order to afford his lifelong dream of going to Baylor, he worked multiple jobs before college including roofing, shoe store salesman, newspaper route, hatchery, oil field worker, and during college as a stocker, checker and assistant produce manager at Piggly Wiggly grocery store, as well as a guard for Armored Motor Service. Dan and Ruby graduated from Baylor in May of 1962; and after his first year at Southwestern Theological Seminary, he was recruited to teach in Irving ISD. He taught 5th grade at Plymouth Park Elementary School and became the assistant principal after one year. Shortly thereafter, he became the principal at T. J. Lee Elementary School. Following Irving, he was principal at Stewart Elementary School in Lubbock, Texas, and he finished his career in education as a principal in Plano, Texas. In Plano, he opened Jackson Elementary and Carpenter Middle School. He loved his teachers and students at every school and was known for connecting on personal levels by holding events and even taking trips with them. When Dan retired from the school district, he became a real estate investor along with joining his son, David, as a partner in his landscape and water gardens business.
Dan continued his leadership in other organizations including the Lion’s Club in Lubbock, Texas, the Dallas Business Association, and the Plano Early Lion’s Club where he was a Charter Member, and served as a Zone Chairman, Chairman of Leadership Development, and President. He established the Leo’s Club, a Lions International Youth Group in Plano, where he enjoyed mentoring youth in leadership. He had a love for music, often singing boldly in his tenor voice at church and with family. In high school and community college, he was the 1st Chair trombone player and section leader.
During the last 15 years of his life, he and Ruby were able to split their time between living on family property in the country (Canton, Texas) and the city (Plano, Texas). Dan is survived by Ruby, his wife of 58 years, two brothers: John Allen Murry (wife, Sheila Bellamy Murry) of Canton, Texas and Michael Edward Murry (wife, Beverly Murry) of Dallas, Texas; daughter Dana Lynn Pingenot (husband, John D. Pingenot) of Plano, Texas, daughter Jan Michelle Van Volkenburgh (husband, Brandon R. Van Volkenburgh) of Celina, Texas, son David Edward Murry (wife, Kelley Johnston Murry) of Leggett, Texas; five grandchildren: Joshua Evan Pingenot (25), Ryan Joseph Pingenot (25), Luke William Pingenot (17), Abigail Grace Van Volkenburgh (12) and Ava Rose Van Volkenburgh (10); two nieces: Melissa Murry Eaton of Sharon, Pennsylvania, and Cynthia Murry Melton (husband, David Craig Melton) of Mesquite, Texas; and six nephews: Danny Dewayne Murry (wife, Janice Busby Murry) of Caddo Mills, Texas, David Allen Murry (wife, Dawn Staman Murry) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jason Howard Murry (wife, Anjanette Murry) of Crandall, Texas, Kevin Wayne Murry (wife, Andrea Arnn Murry) of Dallas, Texas, Joseph Edward Murry (wife, Elissa Murry) of Dallas, Texas, James Howard Murry, Jr. of Athens, Texas, and seven great nieces and five great nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Grace Murry, brother James Howard Murry, and two nieces, Diane Wilburn and Dawna Marchbanks.
A memorial service will be held at Legacy Church, 5333 Independence Parkway, Plano, Texas 75023 on Tuesday, December 10, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations in Dan’s name to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas at www.mda.org or 8131 LBJ Fwy, Suite 440, Dallas, TX 75251. The family thanks you for your love and prayers.
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