James McMurray Obituary

Colonel James F. McMurray, USAF (ret.) died 12/4/2020. He was 78. Born in Bloomfield, New Jersey he attended Grover Cleveland High School in Caldwell, N.J. He graduated from St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT in 1964 where he was commissioned in the United States Air Force through the school ROTC Program. He immediately entered active duty serving as an intelligence officer with tours in Japan and Korea as well as serving with Air Force forward air controllers in Vietnam. He met his wife Vicki Darling while stationed at Offutt AFB and, Omaha NE and in 1976 they moved to Lincoln, where he became a full time member of the Nebraska Air National Guard and they raised their daughter. McMurray graduated from the USAF Air War College in 1987 and during his 30 year Air Force career was awarded three Meritorious Service Medals and the USAF Legion of Merit. He was a member of the Air Force Association (AFA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), American Legion, Veterans of foreign Wars (VFW) and Vietnam Veterans of America. Following his USAF retirement, Col. McMurray worked for several years at Girls and Boys Town in Omaha, NE as the training coordinator in leadership and management. Moving to Lawrence, KS in 2003, he and his wife became active members of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and volunteers at Lawrence Interdenominational nutrition kitchen (LINK). McMurray volunteered a large amount of his time with AARP Tax-Aide service at Lawrence Senior Center and at Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, receiving their Spirit of Service award in 2009 and The United Way's Outstanding Volunteer award in 2011. McMurray enjoyed time in nature and loved to travel, especially to visit family and friends. He was well known for his generosity, opening his door to anyone in need. This extended to animals as well and he was known by all the neighborhood dogs as the distributor of treats. He is survived by his wife Vicki, daughter Andrea, sister Mary O'Halloran, and brother Dennis McMurray, many nieces, nephews, and loved ones. He will be interned at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to LINK, Just Food, St. John's Catholic Church, or Habitat for Humanity.