ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: FINCHER, MURRAY CREIGHT 

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, Covington, La.

Died: Saturday, May 19, 2014

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FINCHER, MURRAY CREIGHT 
May 31, 1913 - May 19, 2014

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MURRAY CREIGHT FINCHER, left this world peacefully at his home on May 19th just 
twelve days shy of his 101st birthday.

Murray Fincher, youngest son of the Rev. Thomas Paine Fincher and Bessie Annie 
Lloyd, was born May 31, 1913 in Eclectic, Alabama, and grew up in Brundidge, 
Alabama. Small town life inspired many of his stories and fondest 
recollections. The first in his family to attend college, he graduated from 
Birmingham-Southern College and studied economics at The University of Georgia 
and Dartmouth College.
After graduation, he worked for six years as a reporter for The Birmingham News 
then joined the Southern Bell division of AT&T in Atlanta (later South Central 
Bell). In 1957, a transfer brought the family to New Orleans, and in 1963 
Fincher was elected officer in charge of Louisiana operations. He served in 
that capacity for 14 years.
FincherŐs many contributions to Louisiana civic life included: president of the 
New Orleans Area Chamber of Commerce, general campaign chairman of the United 
Way during the September of Hurricane Betsy, campaign chairman of the 
Archbishop's Community Appeal, and president of the New Orleans Area Junior 
Achievement. With his wife Jean, he was active in numerous Carnival 
organizations.
He was a member of the Louisiana Judiciary Commission by appointment of the 
Louisiana Supreme Court; served on the President's Council of Loyola 
University; as a member of the organizing committee for TulaneŐs Freeman School 
and as a trustee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In recognition of service to his community, he received the Weiss Award of the 
National Conference of Christian and Jews; the Whitney M. Young Award of the 
New Orleans Urban League; and the Community Service Award of the Greater New 
Orleans AFL-CIO among others.
The son of a Methodist minister, his long life was devoted to family and faith 
as member of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, Rayne 
United Methodist Church in New Orleans and St. Timothy on the Northshore United 
Methodist Church in Mandeville.
Throughout his life, he loved words and writing. From a head full of great 
writing, Fincher would quote anything from Thomas Gray, to the Gettysburg 
Address, to lyrics from the Fantasticks. His letters to the editor were legion, 
filled with insight and good humor. After the death of his beloved wife, 
writing was his refuge and solace. He wrote poetry and fiction, resulting in 
six published novels.

He is survived by three children: Jan M. Fincher of Longmont, Colorado; Thomas 
O. Fincher(Judith Graham) of Ramona, California, and Nancy F. Clark(Rendel) of 
Mandeville; four grandchildren: Todd Fincher of Portland, Oregon; Tracy Fincher 
of Chino Hills, CA.; Ryan Clark (Katherine Parker) of Charleston, South 
Carolina; Lauren Clark, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and four great grandchildren, 
Corporal Dustin Fincher USMC (Melinda) of Twentynine Palms, Ca.; Jake Thomas 
Stinson of Chino Hills; Rendel and Adelaide Clark of Charleston.

A celebration of a life well-lived will be held on June 6, 2014 at St Timothy 
on the Northshore United Methodist Church, 335 Asbury Drive, Mandeville. 
Visitation will begin at 10:00 with service and reception following.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Methodist ChildrenŐs 
Home of Greater New Orleans

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