CARTER COUNTY, TN - OBITUARIES - Harry E. "Sonny" Murray, 24 Feb 2004 ----¤¤¤---- Harry E. "Sonny" Murray, 76, Southside Rd., Elizabethton, died Tuesday, February 24, 2004 in the Sycamore Shoals Hospital. A native of Carter County, he was a son of the late Hugh and Bonnie Bradley Murray. He was a 1946 graduate of Elizabethton High School. Mr. Murray was serving in the Tennessee National Guard and was called to active duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, serving in the First Cavalry Division. He was awarded the Silver Star for Valor. He was one of the most decorated soldiers from Carter County from the Korean Conflict. Mr. Murray joined the Elizabethton Police Department in 1952 and served for 21 years rising in rank to Assistant Chief. He was the first OSHA director for the city. Prior to his retirement in 1990, he was Chief Building Official. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Elizabethton, serving at various times as a deacon and remained an active member of the men's Sunday school class. He was a member of the Watauga Masonic Lodge #622. He was also a member of the First Cavalry Division Association. He was an avid golfer and fisherman. Survivors include his wife of 51 1/2 years, Sarah Robinson Murray; a daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Lanny Smith, of Kingsport; a step granddaughter and her husband, Michelle and Mike Phillips; two step great grandsons, Matthew and Malachi Phillips, all of St. Paul, Virginia. The funeral service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday, February 27, 2004 in the First Christian Church of Elizabethton with Mr. Donald Marshall and Mr. Michael Koruschak, ministers, officiating. The graveside service and burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 28, 2004 in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Music will be provided by Charles Dugger, organist, and No Name But His. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the church at 6:50 p.m. Friday and also at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Saturday will be Charles Dugger, Mike Phillips, Matthew Phillips, Sonny Shoun, Richard Thomason, Mike Thomas, John Daniel Thomas and Jim Arnold. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Kent, Ken Calloway, Curt Emert, Don Marshall, Andy Lockman, Stewart Floyd, Dan Crowe, Phil Ellis, Fred Short, Bill Cole, Fred Bowers, Edward E. Wilson, Troy Thomason, James Pearson, Lynn Patillo, Lee White, Harry Watson, Pat (Red) Bowers, Jared Cakebread, Willie Williams, Robert Wisniewski, James Harris, Guy Robinson, Olis Robinson, Coy Davis, Carmon Dugger, Ray Dugger, Clyde Bowers, Dr. Robert Taylor, the men's Sunday school class at First Christian Church; the men's Sunday school class at Southside Christian Church, his buddies of the Krystal Coffee Club, members and former members of the Elizabethton Police Department, members and former members of the Carter County Sheriff's Department. Friends may call at the residence or the funeral home. An Honor Guard will be provided by the Elizabethton Police Department. Military graveside honors will be provided by the Tennessee Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team with Mike Phillips playing "Taps". To those who prefer, memorials may be made in memory of Mr. Murray to the First Christian Church, Outreach Fund, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society or to the Donors Charity of Choice. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to go to the cemetery. Condolences to the Murray family may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net. Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Elizabethton Star http://www.starhq.com/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------