Mike (Michael James) Murray

Mike (Michael James) Murray, 67, of Albany, died on Thursday, March 6, 2014, of cancer. He was born Jan. 23, 1947, in Watertown, N.Y., to Edward and Virginia (Brown) Murray.

Mike grew up in St. Louis, Mo. He attended college in Kansas City, Mo., and Kirksville, Mo. Mike was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War era and a past member of the Columbia (Missouri) Friends Meeting. He had been a newspaper reporter, public school teacher and a state and federal government employee. Mike loved reading and writing; art and music; soccer, basketball and baseball; and the beauty of the Great Plains.

Survivors include his wife, Marianne Ronan; sons, Dylan Murray and wife, Rebecca, and Kevin Murray; daughter, Ellen Jones; grandchildren, Andrew and Landon Murray, and Evie and Alonzo Jones; brothers, Joe Murray and wife, Eva, and Ed Murray; sisters, Pat Lawler and husband, Jim, Kathleen Murray and husband, Tony Hanson, and Mary and Teresa Murray; good soul, Jeanne Murray; and cherished friends and members of Mike's extended family.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 12, at the Roberson-Polley Chapel, Albany. A luncheon will follow the service at Poppa's Restaurant in Albany. In keeping with the Irish tradition, all relatives, friends and acquaintances are invited to join in the meal.

The family requests no flowers and asks that any donations or memorials be made to the Hands of Hope Hospice, 137 N. Belt Hwy, St. Joseph, MO. 64506.

Online condolences may be left at www.robersonpolleychapel.com.