Funeral services for Reverend Glenn Edwin Murray, 81, Hartville, Missouri, formerly of West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, March 31, 2016 at United Freewill Baptist Church, West Plains, Missouri, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Reverend Murray passed away at 3:09 p.m., Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Hartville Care Center.
He was born March 10, 1935, at Doniphan, Missouri, to Jess Earl Murray and Clara Marie Crook Murray. He graduated from Doniphan High School with the Class of 1953. Reverend Murray was a veteran, having served with the United States National Guard. On September 24, 1955, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Rachel Victoria Adkisson. He worked at sawmills and restored antique furniture; having worked at Joplin Brothers Handle Factory and Smith Gas Company. While working at Cloud Oak Flooring, he answered the call to preach; he ministered for the next fifty-five years. On December 11, 1960 he preached his first sermon at the First Freewill Baptist Church, West Plains and where he was later ordained to preach on April 2, 1962 when his son, Jon, was ten days old. Susie Murray Stillwell was the first convert, at the Oak Grove Church of God, Doniphan, Missouri on January 1, 1961. He preached 9,700 sermons, led 2,370 souls to being saved, officiated 1,900 funerals, 200 weddings, 700 baptisms and preached at over 700 revivals. Reverend Murray served at Pleasant Home Freewill Baptist Church, Alton Freewill Baptist Church, Hannon Freewill Baptist Church, Cabool Freewill Baptist Church, Oak Grove Church of God, First Freewill Baptist Church, Batesville, Arkansas, United Freewill Baptist Church, West Plains, State Line, Victory (Myrtle), Dry Creek and Hartville. He enjoyed turkey hunting, taking his 100th in the Spring of 2015.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Rachel Murray; five children, Dwight Murray, Pomona, Missouri, Wesley Murray and wife, Judy, Houston, Missouri, Jonathan Murray, wife, Lesa, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Clarissa Moon, husband, Melvin, Hartville, Missouri and Ronald Murray, wife, Leslie, West Plains, Missouri; eleven grandchildren, Sarah Rachel Murray, Kyle, Kris and Ellie Horbyk, Kyle Murray, Katie Jo Klaproth, Caleb Moon, Shanda Branstetter, Seth Moon, Gillian Moon and Emma Grace Murray; three great-grandchildren and three on the way; four sisters, Jane Mackley, Coolage, Arizona, Joyce Moore, husband, Dwaine, Doniphan, Missouri, Sharon Johnson, Elsberry, Missouri and Sue Stillwell, husband, Kenneth, Doniphan, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Ernestine Doss, husband, Don, West Plains, Missouri and Eudene Holt, West Plains, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Shelby Adkisson, wife, Evona, West Plains, Missouri and Charles Stobaugh, University City, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, at United Freewill Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Texas County Memorial Hospital Foundation Chaplain's Fund and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.