Robert Moore Murray

A life well lived came to an end for Robert Moore Murray of Galveston on November 26, 2024 after a brief illness. 

Bob was born to Matthew and Dorothea Murray in Galveston on February 27, 1926.  He spent his early years in a much quieter Galveston and shared amazing recollections and stories of the island in the 1930s and 1940s.  As a youngster he worked as a carrier for the Galveston Daily News and worked at his father’s gas station on the northeast corner of Broadway and 35th street.

After graduating from Ball High School in 1943, Bob attended the University of Texas at Austin before being accepted into the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Georgetown.  He graduated from the Academy in 1946, after which he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.  

In 1953 Bob married the love of his life, Patricia Joy McMeans (Patsy).  After living for a short while in California during his military service, they returned to Galveston where Bob embarked on a long and successful career as a marine engineer/surveyor.  

For the next 63 years they lived on the island and raised a family of four children. They also had a close-knit circle of friends who they cherished spending time with and traveling all over the world making unforgettable memories. 

Bob had a variety of interests, most notably reading, watching Texas Longhorn sports and Astros’ games and working around the house or yard.  Bob and Patsy were faithful members of Trinity Episcopal Church for more than 60 years, and he served the church in various capacities including terms on the vestry as senior and junior warden. Of all these pleasures, Bob’s greatest joy was his family.  His devotion to Patsy, his children and later his grandchildren and great grandchildren has been an inspiration to his entire family that they will cherish forever. 

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Patsy, his son Robert Moore Murray, Jr. and his sister Helen Murray Blackshear.  He is survived by his three children – Steve Murray of Galveston, Kate Murray and son-in-law John Caldwell of San Angelo, and CiCi Newkirk and son-in-law Kevin Newkirk of Friendswood, his 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to caregivers Tina Suell and Shaneeka Davis.  Their loving and compassionate care in Bob’s final years was deeply appreciated. 

The funeral service will be held on Monday, December 2, 2024 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2216 Ball Street in Galveston at 10 AM. 

It was Bob’s wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to Trinity Episcopal Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert Moore Murray, please visit our floral store.