Thomas Elmer Murray

Published 12:01 am Thursday, January 25, 2018

Feb. 16, 1945 – Jan. 23, 2018

NATCHEZ — Services for Thomas Elmer “Monk” Murray, 72, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, at Merit Health Natchez, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Thomas Foster officiating.    

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from noon until service time Friday, both at the funeral home.

Mr. Murray was born Feb. 16, 1945, in Crosby, the son of Bilbo Murray and Juanita Doris McCurley Murray.

He was Baptist and a member of New Hope Baptist Church. He supported his family through hard work in the oil field, construction and later owned his own trucking company, T.E. Murray Trucking for 25 years before his retirement. He loved horses, cows, dogs and especially his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Billy, Bobby and Clayton; two sisters, Vivian and Joan; two nephews, Butch and Darrell; one niece, Faye; and one son-in-law, Shelton Dunn Sr.

Survivors include his wife, Bettie Murray; two daughters, Teresa Dunn-Steed and husband, Pat Steed Sr., of Natchez, and Sharon McCraven and husband, Kenney, of Knoxville, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Shelton Dunn Jr., Pat Steed Jr., Ashley McCraven , Brittany Steed, Thomas Lane Steed and Rami McCraven; five great-grandchildren, Punkin, Evan, Ryder, Paxton and McKenzie; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by a special pet, Tickle.

Pallbearers will be Shelton Dunn Jr., Pat Steed Jr., Ronald Caylor, Shane Caylor, Jeff Maher and Tony Maher.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.