Reverend Glenn Edwin Murray
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.
lyle & lisa mcthompson
March 28, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
may god be with you and your family during this time of your loss.glen is visiting with alot of friends and loved ones.the one that comes to mind is our neighbors and friend bob and betty selvey,and my father-in-law bob hopkins.and many more.God bless love in christ the mcthompson family from hannon fwb church in liberal mo
Cindi (Smith) Thompson
March 28, 2016 @ 6:01 pm
Praying for all of you! So many good memories of Glenn and Rachel!! Looked forward many years to seeing them at church camp after they left Hannon. Loved seeing them when they would visit Bob and Betty Selvey. I know that Bob and Betty will be glad to welcome him into heaven.
Barb Hopkins-King
March 28, 2016 @ 6:30 pm
Heaven was made richer on mar 26th! Didn’t get to know he & Rachel long here at Hannon FWB, but enjoyed them so! He not only was a fabulous pastor, but had such a delicious sense of humor, we loved him so much! He made sure after leaving here & after the death of my beloved Bob that he called & checked on my well-being several times, which meant so much to me! Am looking forward to seeing him again when I, too, reach that glorious home on high! Prayers for the family & precious memories
James & Carolyn Looney
March 28, 2016 @ 6:31 pm
Brother Glenn baptized both me and my wife at United Freewill Baptist church. Not only was he our pastor but he was also our dear friend. I had the privilege & honor to take Bro Glenn & Sister Rachel for a drive to Rachel’s old home place in Melbourne, Ar. a few years ago and we had such a good time. God blessed us so much last week as we went to see him on Friday & stopped by the Houston Hospital where they said he had left there. We went on over to Hartville, Mo. to the care center and got to have a short but good visit of which I will never forget. He still had that soft smile and twinkle in his eyes. I thank God for allowing us to have that visit. Earth has lost a great Christian man but Heaven has gained an Angel. We were so lucky to have known this wonderful person. He will surly be missed by all that knew him.
Mike Lautner
March 28, 2016 @ 6:48 pm
Brother Glenn will be missed and never forgotten. Don’t know what number, but the year was 1981 when I first met Glenn. Walking up my street. That was on a Tuesday. He never said what he did, but I found out 5 days later when I woke up and felt a need to go to church. The only one I could think of was United Freewill over the hill. When I got there here was this white haired man and about an hour later I met our Lord. Our relationship had grew through the years and I will never forget our hunts together. I know he is with our Lord and look forward someday to hugging him again.
Clifford and Dorothy Brawley
March 28, 2016 @ 6:54 pm
Love, sympathy and prayers to your family. Bro Glenn was a great servant of God. Always enjoyed his preaching, as was done in spirit and truth. What A Day That Will Be., knowing Heaven will surely be worth it all. Sincerely, Clifford and Dorothy Brawley
Beverly Huff James
March 28, 2016 @ 7:38 pm
Sorry for the Murray families loss. I remember Rev. Murray as a kind man and a good preacher. Heard him preach at Quarterly Meetings and revivals. Prayers for the family.
Russell & Tracy (Cariker) Payne
March 28, 2016 @ 7:55 pm
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of this servant of God. We will be praying for your dear family.
Shelly Crrws Jones
March 28, 2016 @ 8:02 pm
We are so sorry to hear of Glenn’s passing , but have so many great memories of the years together in Doniphan and Oak Grove. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Shelly Crews Jones and Euvalta Crews
Euail Dean and Rita Lester
March 28, 2016 @ 8:52 pm
Clarissa and Mel our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.we love you.
Karen Dugger
March 28, 2016 @ 9:24 pm
My thoughts and prayers for each of you. Hold on to your precious memories! Love to all.
Bob & Linda White
March 28, 2016 @ 9:24 pm
Glen was a great Minister and friend to our family . He was very proud of his family and rightfully so.
He will be missed!
Paul/Thelma Montgomery
March 28, 2016 @ 9:54 pm
Bro. Murray was an awesome person & a wonderful friend. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Rebecca Brooks
March 29, 2016 @ 1:25 am
Glenn Murray was a wonderful friend and Pastor whose sermons were amazing and so heartful. He had a great sense of humor and was so down to earth and honest that you felt safe that every word he preached was truly gospel. When they made him, they truly broke the mold. I am blessed to have known him.
Jan Morrow Chedister
March 29, 2016 @ 5:47 am
My sincere sympathy to all of the family. Keeping you in my prayers.
Wanda Hunter
March 29, 2016 @ 7:21 am
PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY, BRO. GLENN TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.
Glenna Robinett
March 29, 2016 @ 7:30 am
Rachel and Family, I was so sorry to hear about Glenn. He was a wonderful person and he will be missed. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. He was there for me and my family several times through the years with a comforting thought or prayer and I will always remember that. I feel blessed to call him a friend. God Bless you all in your loss.
Keith and Shirley Combs
March 29, 2016 @ 9:04 am
We were one of the couples he married many years ago. He was such a loving pastor an a good man. We will miss his smile an Keith will miss their fishing trips on Eleven Point River. Our loss is truly Heaven’s gain. God Bless all of you.
Dan and Carolyn White
March 29, 2016 @ 10:22 am
Glenn was a very special man, and a close friend to our family. Our prayers go out to the Murray family.
Sandy Deardeuff (Alsup)
March 29, 2016 @ 11:08 am
The Lord needed a strong worker in heaven. My Dad spoke well of him. Sorry for your loss.
Travis Morrison
March 29, 2016 @ 11:38 am
Glenn was a special man. He had very special gifts and made my life better each time we met or visited. Please accept my sympathy. Travis Morrison
Neil & Beth Hamilton
March 29, 2016 @ 12:06 pm
Brother Glenn was a wonderful Christian, a shining example and a good friend to us and to our son, Tony. When tried to make every revival he preached in the Cabool area. We will never forget his words of wisdom, his wonderful personality. Our love to Rachel and the family. God Bless Always!
Amy Harris
March 29, 2016 @ 1:25 pm
Clarissa,
It has been a long time but I feel a real loss for you, your family and those who knew Reverend Murray. Your dad was a good and kind man of God. He will be missed by many.
Robin Bennett
March 29, 2016 @ 4:23 pm
Words can not fully ease the emptiness of loosing a parent as the words will fade with time. The example that Glenn set by the way he cared for people/ the way in which he loved his wife & family/ the pride he took in them/ most importantly the love he had for God is something that will last in the memory forever. Always a giving man…. he truly had a servants heart. Even tho he is gone to his heavenly home he will long be remembered and missed. Deepest sympathy to the family at this most difficult of times. ~ Robin Bennett ~ Fairdealing, Mo.
Clayton Rogers
March 29, 2016 @ 6:33 pm
Wesley, brothers and Clarissa; Even though we went to different churches, we lived in the same community for a brief while during our youth. I certainly admired your father, not only as a minister,but I respected him as an individual , just like I did my own father. There was a presence about him that was different than most. So many fond memories with your family and mine. I remember someone shooting a compound bow straight into the sky and all of us running to and fro to find a safe place to watch the arrow come down. May your days ahead be filled with fond memories of your father and be comforted in knowing he did not lose to death, but he won the prize. Our love and prayers to all of you.
Bill Clanahan
March 30, 2016 @ 8:46 am
What a dear, sweet man Brother Glenn was. We will always have good memories of him in Bible Camp with us.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154662341135215&set=a.10154662330155215.1073741897.626745214&type=3&theater
Michael & Sandra Phenix
March 30, 2016 @ 9:03 am
Our hearts go out to all the family, may God surround you with his comfort and peace. Although we did not know him all that well, we did attend Untied Freewill a few times with my Mother and Sister, and heard Brother Murray preach several times. We are sending all of our love and keeping all of you in our prayers.
Joe & Shirley Yokley
March 30, 2016 @ 1:38 pm
We send our condolences to Rachel and the entire family, and our prayers for God’s comforting touch on each of the family. May God always bless each one. We were blessed to have them stay with us when Bob Selvey passed away. What a wonderful couple. Glenn was “the apple of God’s eye”. Loved by all who knew him.
Teresa (Traw) Vinson
March 30, 2016 @ 2:44 pm
So sorry to hear about Bro. Glenn. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. May God comfort you and give you strength during this difficult time.
Kelly, Pam & Kaley Johnson
March 30, 2016 @ 3:02 pm
Our love and prayers to Glenn’s family. Every time I heard him preach, the message was just what I needed. He and my grandparents, Ernest and Barbara James, were very close as he was the pastor at the Alton Freewill Baptist Church many years ago. He was an awesome person with a Christ-like character. I remember him praying and he would say, May your presence fill us and thrill us”. Amen
Laura Penderegrass
March 31, 2016 @ 4:06 pm
Lots of good memories and good times with both Glenn and Rachel. Sorry for your loss.
Laura Pendergrass
Frank & Bonnie Lutz
March 31, 2016 @ 4:33 pm
Dear Rachel and Family, We are so sorry to hear about Bro. Glenn. We have such good memories of Bro. Glenn and your family as our pastor and friend. He was such a kind and caring man. The last time we heard him preach was at Cabool church a few years ago. We did not have a pastor at the time and his sermon was so encouraging, just what we needed at that time. With our sincere sympathy and loving prayers for your family.
Frank & Bonnie Lutz
Carol Cannon Jones & Barbara Cannon
March 31, 2016 @ 7:09 pm
Our hearts go out to all of the Murray family. Brother Glenn holds a special place in our hearts. We have lots of fond memories of him & Rachael. Prayers & love to the family.
Hal and Robin (Murray) Vickers
April 4, 2016 @ 10:36 am
Prayers for you all at this time. Brother Glenn and Rachael, such a precious couple !!!
Many good memories of them and Oak Grove Church. We are so blessed to have been
a part of those days. Love and prayers to each one of you.