Michael Joseph McMurray Sr.'s Obituary
Michael Joseph McMurray, Sr., age 77, ended his valiant 10-year fight against ALS on Saturday, October 22nd, at his home in Mandeville, surrounded by his devoted family.
He was born in New Orleans to Charles and Elizabeth McMurray, on July 13th, 1945, the eldest of three children.
Mike attended St. Paul’s School in Covington where he excelled in football, basketball and track and was awarded the Jimmy Dunn Memorial Award for best overall athlete and, in later years, was inducted into the St. Paul’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He received a basketball scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana College and played four years there including a game against LSU with “Pistol” Pete Maravich.
His senior year brought an unexpected interruption with the arrival of a draft notice. He joined the Navy and spent two years serving his country in Vietnam. In 1970, he returned home and finished his degree, got married and had a beautiful son, Michael Jr. His next years were spent in various finance positions, but his favorite was following in his father’s footsteps as auditor for St. Paul’s School where he spent over 20 years.
In 2012, he received another interruption with the diagnosis of ALS which required him to retire. But being ever hopeful and positive, he continued living a full life and was an inspiration to all who knew him and watched him battle this horrible disease. His positive attitude was definitely a factor in helping him far surpass the expected 2-5 years prognosis and he will long be remembered for his corny jokes and quirky sense of humor.
In 2017, through the technology of his VA provided eye-gaze computer, he was able to create and tell the story of his journey through ALS to a closer relationship to God and present it to the whole student body of St. Paul’s School. You can still view that presentation simply by searching “Mike McMurray ’63” on the internet.
Mike was a devoted Catholic being active in the Knights of Columbus in his earlier years and a parishioner at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church. He was always an enthusiastic fan of all things St. Paul’s (Go Wolves!) and the New Orleans Saints. After his diagnosis, he was active in the local ALS support group, ALS Association activities and Team Gleason.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Deidre Dutruch McMurray, who with his son, Michael Joseph McMurray, Jr., steadfastly managed and fought for his health care. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Leah McMurray and Katie David; step-daughters, Whitney Dorman and Lainey Sharp; a grandson, John Dorman; his sister, Eileen Fenger (Bernie); his brother, Kevin McMurray (Colleen); and his first wife, Antoinette “Patty” Gaudet. He is also survived by many loving and special nieces and nephews and his lifetime, devoted friend, Jimmy Dykes. The family pets, Brody, Bonnie and Clyde are already missing him.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents Charles Henry McMurray and Elizabeth Paysse McMurray.
Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. at the Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church on Saturday, Oct, 29th followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. A private, family interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens.
To aid research and to help find a cure for ALS, Mike decided early on to donate his brain to the University of Miami’s Brain Endowment Bank which is one of six National Institute of Health Neurobiobanks whose mission is to support medical and scientific researchers who study the human brain in search of better medications and treatments and ultimately a cure for brain diseases.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Team Gleason Foundation at teamgleason.org or to the St. Paul’s athletic fund.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for the years of support, care and compassion to the staff of the New Orleans VA ALS Clinic, to the whole team at Notre Dame Hospice and to the local community of patients with ALS and their caretakers who became like family.
What’s your fondest memory of Michael?
What’s a lesson you learned from Michael?
Share a story where Michael's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Michael you’ll never forget.
How did Michael make you smile?
