The Reverend Billy Bruce Murray, 81, of Weaverville entered the gates of heaven on Monday, March 19, 2018. Billy served his Lord and community as a Madison County minister for fifty years at Laurel Valley Baptist Church, Peeks Chapel and Blue Ridge Missionary Baptist Church. He served our country in the United States Army during the Korean War and was a talented carpenter known by many.
Billy is proceeded in death by his parents, Guy and Edna Murray, two brothers, Zane and Harley Murray, and grandson, Zachary Harkins. He is survived by his beloved wife, Gail, to whom he was married for 60 years. A sister, Robbie Payne, brother, Russell Murray, sister in law, Bernice Murray, son, Michael Murray, (wife, Carmen) daughter, Anastasia (Stacy) Isbouts, (husband, Gerald), seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
In all the corners of the earth, Billy never met a stranger. If you knew him, you were loved by him. With a flash of his smile, you’d find yourself with a friend, a confidant--a person whose sheer presence felt like home.
Billy was known for fishing—fishing of all kinds; whether fishing for Brown Trout in the Enterprise Waters of Cherokee or in the pulpit, he never came out empty-handed. With his hands full of trout and his boots full of water, he filled up every facet of his life to the brim, and never wasted a minute. He found solace in the water of the countryside and the waves of redemption that washed over so many under his care.
“Come on out to the house”, he’d say. On his porch is where the real breakthroughs happened. And when you finally roused yourself to leave this safe haven, with “Billy’s beans” in hand, you’d find yourself counting the days to when you could return again to glean wisdom, a touch from God, and the loving kindness of a simple friend. He was one of the last porch sleepers of his day. Simple. Refreshing. Redeemed. This was Billy Murray.
Funeral Services will be held 2:00pm Friday, March 23, 2018 at Piney Mountain Baptist Church, Weaverville, NC, where Billy and Gail were members. Reverend Steve Freeman will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery immediately following the service. The family will receive friends at Blue Ridge Funeral Service from 5-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 22.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org