John Archie Murray, Jr

John Archie Murray, Jr., 87, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, lately of Etowah, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, October 8, 2022. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marilyn, to whom he was married for 60 years; his granddaughter, Faith; his parents, John “Jock” and Neva Grace Murray; and his sister, Mary Jane (Murray) Erwin.

A drop-in reception to celebrate his life and share stories will be Saturday, Nov. 5, from 2-4 p.m. in the auditorium at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. John and Marilyn enjoyed volunteering at ASME for many years and were great supporters of the museum.

John was born in Tampa, Florida, where he attended H. B. Plant High School and played trombone in the band. He began tinkering with small engines, particularly outboard boat motors, which allowed him to get an after-school job at a local outboard motor shop. When he was a teenager, he and his dad built a wooden boat from a kit that he continued to use for many years, including when he helped rescue people during a 1967 flood in Oliver Springs.

He attended Duke University through the Naval ROTC program. While at Duke, he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, the Engineers’ Guidance Council, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He graduated in 1957 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned as an Ensign. He was promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) in 1958. His active duty was primarily spent as an engineering officer on the USS Vermillion (AKA-107), an attack cargo ship. After he left active duty in 1960, he entered the inactive reserve, where he was promoted to Lieutenant (Senior Grade) in the Naval Research Reserve Company 6-3.

He married the love of his life, Marilyn, shortly after graduating university. They moved to Oak Ridge in 1960 after John accepted a position with Union Carbide Corp. as a field engineer. He continued as an Engineering project manager for many construction projects at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Y-12 Plant (now Y-12 National Security Complex), and the K-25 site (now Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant). Some of the notable construction projects he managed during his tenure included the High Temperature Materials Laboratory in 1988 and the Holifield Heavy Ion Research Facility in 1980. He retired from ORNL (Lockheed Martin Energy Systems) in 1996 after 36 years of company service.

John and Marilyn were well known in the Oak Ridge community, where they were involved in several local groups and clubs. John was a lifetime member of the U.S. Power Squadron, and he and his family were supporters of the local Power Squadron chapter, where he enjoyed teaching various boating courses and served on its board of directors.

After retiring, John began serving as a tour guide for the DOE Public Tours, sharing his stories of living and working in Oak Ridge. He also became deeply involved in the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program, where he organized the local assistance program and its volunteers. People were known to travel far and wide to have “the Tax Man” prepare and file their returns because they trusted his honesty and integrity.

John loved his wife beyond measure. They celebrated 60 years together. He was the perfect dad. He was the go-to parent for math problems–always stating “let the pencil do the work.” John loved tinkering with his cars in his spare time and taught all his children how to check the oil levels and change a tire. On the long trips to Florida, in the back of the station wagon, we kids would beg our father to sing from his repertoire of Spike Jones drinking songs. We loved them and loved that Mom was mortified.

At every family get-together, our father was the silent man in the back of the room. Unassuming, full of love. The true rock of our family. He will be truly missed.

He is succeeded by his children, Katherine (David) Gildea, Sandra (Don) Spingler, Mary Murray, and John “Bud” (Tammy) Murray; niece, Christa Erwin (Duncan Gibbs) and her family; and a wonderful plethora of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the doctors, therapists, and staff associated with the Etowah Health Care Center for John’s care during the past few years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice. Online condolences may be made through zieglerfuneralhome.com.

If you would like to reach out to the family, you can sign the online registry at: www.zieglerfuneralhome.com

Ziegler Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of John Archie Murray, Jr.