John Bill Murrell
A celebration of life service for John William “John Bill” Murrell, 87, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, August 18, 2019, at First Christian Church.
Mr. Murrell passed away at 11:23 p.m., Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Missouri.
He was born June 14, 1932, at Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, to James Robert “Jim” Murrell and Henrietta Dixon Murrell. John Bill graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1950 and received his professional dry cleaning training in Silver Springs, Maryland. Mr. Murrell was a veteran, having served with the United States Navy. On December 9, 1951, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Betty Jo Griffin, who preceded him in death on October 18, 2013. Mr. Murrell was the owner and operator of Murrell’s Cleaners until his retirement in 1994. He was a member of Troop 61 of Boy Scouts and was scout master for over 20 years. He was also an Eagle Scout and helped many boys become an Eagle Scout; he received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor within the Boy Scouts, which was voted on by his peers. John Bill was also a member of the West Plains Rotary Club, West Plains Chamber of Commerce and Ozark Mountain Long Rifle Club where he had served as secretary and treasurer for many years. He enjoyed traveling the United States and abroad with his wife, Betty. Mr. Murrell was a lifelong member of First Christian Church of West Plains where he had served as a Deacon, Elder, Trustee, Sunday School teacher and Bible study teacher.
He is survived by three children, Rhea Murrell Edwards, Mountain Home, Arkansas, Johnny Murrell and wife, Charlene, West Plains and James Murrell and wife, Marcella, West Plains; eight grandchildren, Terry Edwards, Jr., and wife, Gina, Robert W. Edwards, Rebecca Jo Ann Edwards and special friend, Robert Jordan, John William “J.W.” Murrell, III and fiancé Alyssa, Ann Elizabeth Murrell, Melissa Marie Bentley and husband, Jason, James Wade Murrell, Jr. and Katy and Benjamin Edwin Murrell; several great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one brother-in-law, Barry Griffin and wife, Rhonda and their children, Jonathan and Natalie, West Plains; sister-in-law, Carrie Murrell, Atlanta, Georgia; six nieces and one nephew.
His parents, wife, step-mother, Dorothy Murrell, one brother, James Robert Murrell, Jr. and one sister, Emily Jane Conrad, preceded him in death.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. A private interment will be held at a later date at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery.
Karla
August 8, 2019 @ 4:42 pm
My neighborhood has changed forever because wonderful, sweet Mr. Murrell has moved back to his permanent address on the other side. He was always so friendly and kind and let me feed the homeless kitties on his 2nd driveway. I will think of him often the way he was when I last stopped to talk to him a few weeks ago – standing in his driveway in his shorts and t-shirt eating a DQ Blizzard he had just driven himself to get. He was happy and smiling and said he felt great. My heart goes out to his family who love him so deeply and to my friend, Charlene, who has lost Poppa – her last parent.
Amber(Cozort)Redburn
August 8, 2019 @ 5:37 pm
The Murrell Family,
We want to express our deepest sympathy to each one of you upon the loss of John. Your family will be in our daily prayers and thoughts. May God comfort, encourage, and strengthen all of you thru this difficult time. May God bless all of you.
In Christian Love,
Tim, Amber, and Corby Redburn
wanda hunter
August 9, 2019 @ 7:02 am
My thoughts and prayers to all of family, had breakfast with John and his classmates last week, he was a joy to be around. My son Jeff was in with his boy scout troop John was a wonderful leader. Mrs Bob Hunter.
Charles Glenn
August 9, 2019 @ 8:03 am
So sorry to hear of John’s passing. I have many wonderful memories of our fishing and camping on the Eleven Point River with Ritter and Schroeder. My wife and I, also went to Springfield and enjoyed the “Little Theatre” productions with John and Betty during the 1980’s.
I’m sure you will be sharing a lot of you memories of John and Betty with family and friends in the next few weeks. John was a good man! Charles Glenn
JANE HILBRICH
August 9, 2019 @ 4:17 pm
So sorry for you loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers
Michael Frommel
August 14, 2019 @ 5:09 pm
Mr. Murrell was Scout Master during my time as a Boy Scout. What a leader, what a role model, what a great man. I was so blessed to have known him. Thank you Mr. Murrell.