Robert “Bob” McMurray

Robert "Bob" McMurray passed his spirit to its new home on June 14, 2017. Bob was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on October 19, 1926, to Harold and Lois McMurray. He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Lois, his sister Maureen Cowden, his son Lane, and his wife of 67 years, Elnora. He is survived by three children: Dana McMurray (children, Zhou Zhou, Anne Jung, Aidan, and their mother Sarah Mulligan and her daughter Emma), Marsha McMurray-Avila (husband, Ricardo Avila-Carbajal and daughter, Laisha Avila-McMurray), and Paula Gharib (son, Bijan Gharib), and extended family and friends. Bob obtained a B.S. degree in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University and a M.S. degree in Mathematics from Emporia State University. He spent two years in the U.S. Navy as a signalman aboard a destroyer. He then spent 35 years as a math teacher for grade-6-level math through pre-calculus. Bob derived great pleasure from playing tennis and table tennis for 65 years and from hiking the trails and mountains of New Mexico for 20 years. His enthusiasm for writing produced over 200 songs, 10 plays (including 6 musicals), three novellas, and one novel. His gentleness, devotion, intelligence, and humor will be missed by all who knew him. Bob's family wishes to express their thanks to Alliance Hospice Care for their support and to the staff of the Brookdale Valencia Senior Living Community for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, P.O. Box 25445, Albuquerque, NM 87125-0445. Arrangements entrusted to: Riverside Funeral Home of Albuquerque 225 San Mateo Blvd NE (505) 764-9663