Edward Murray

Edward “Ed” Nicholas Murray, Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) US Naval Reserve, 100, of Herscher, IL went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, IL following a recent decline in health.

Visitation will be held at the Fedde-Helfrich-Cross Funeral Home, 112 W. Main St., Peotone, IL on Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.  Military Honors by the United States Navy and funeral service officiated by Father Ron Neitzke will be held at 5:00 p.m.  Burial will take place at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Momence on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.  Memorials in his name may be directed to the Peotone American Legion Post 392 where he was a member.

Edward N. Murray was born on April 15, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY to Joseph F. Murray and Lucy Murray (Bosch).  Ed was a student at the University of Notre Dame and met the love of his life Pat, who was a student at nearby St. Mary’s.  It was during Ed’s sophomore year at college when news came of the bombing of Pearl Harbor that changed the trajectory of his life.  While engaged to Pat, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Navy’s V-7 Program which allowed him to accelerate his college curriculum and earn his degree in a year, go into Midshipman Training and commission as an officer.  Ed commissioned as an Ensign USNR on April 23, 1943 and went on to become a decorated Lieutenant Commander.  He served during both WWII and the Korean War on the USS Prometheus which repaired aircraft carriers and battleships that were bombed in WWII followed by duties aboard the USS Laertes and the USS Cascade.

Following Ed’s military career Ed became very successful in the insurance industry, owning American Underwriter Agency Inc.  He also owned the former Murray Buick Pontiac in Momence.  Ed was an avid golfer, a member of Olympia Fields Country Club and the Kankakee Country Club.  It was at the Kankakee Country Club that Ed won the prestigious Rollison Golf Tournament more than once.  His favorite golf courses were in Ireland and Scotland.  Ed loved to travel around the world and visited all 7 continents during his lifetime.  Ed and Pat went on to have 8 children together.

He is survived by his son, Joseph F. Murray (Laurel) of Port Angeles, WA; his daughters Ann Murray Hall (Gary) of Momence, IL and Melanie Schane (Steve) of Piedmont, CA; 18 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Frances “Pat” Murray whom he married on September 1, 1945 in Momence, IL; one son Edward N. Murray, Jr.; and four of his daughters, Mary Key, Katy Yoakum (Rick), Stephanie Murray, and Susie Kantor (Carl); and a grandson Sabian Emmons.

Ed once said “One never knows when God will call us to face His judgement so we must live each day He gives us”.  Sign the guestbook at www.feddehlefrichcrossfh.com