Ret. SMSGT Barry Murray 1930 - 2016

MURRAY, GROSS, QUIRK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/28/2016 at 00:25:12

Sioux City Journal
28 February 2016

SOUTH SIOUX CITY | Ret. SMSGT Barry Murray, 85, of South Sioux City died on Feb. 26, 2016, at a Sioux City hospital.

There will be a military service at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the American Legion Hall, 109 E. 19th Street in South Sioux City.

Barry arrived at the home of Ralph and Ethel Murray on Aug. 2, 1930. While still very young, they moved to Sioux City, living on Jackson Street, where his brother, James was born. Barry attended Sioux City Schools and graduated from Central.

He worked at Johnson Biscuit and Farmers Lumber. He married Ruth Gross 1952, and they had three children, Michael, Carla Behm and Diana Johnston.

In 1950, he signed on with the U.S. Air Force, serving 10 generals throughout his career and making many friends on flight crews he served with and fellow service members. He served in Massachusetts, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Germany, Arkansas, and in just one year, he had over a million miles flying. In his 26 years 4 months and 3 days of service, he was in every country, some more than once. His last years of flying were in and out of Vietnam, and he retired at Little Rock, Ark., in 1976.

While he was stationed in Germany, he met and married Kathleen Quirk. In 1978, after their years in the service, they settled in South Sioux City. When moving back to South Sioux City, he took a job with Johnson Automatic Music and worked there until his full retirement. They then had time to travel and his most fun trip was through Canada and Alaska. Barry had many hobbies and loved to make things for people, including rocking horses, and kids' stools.

He was also a collector of cows and John Deere tractors. He fell in love with the farm while visiting Kathleen's relatives in Wisconsin. One big treat was talking with Kathleen's dad about the old days of farming and sitting with him at the fair watching the cattle judging or the big horse hitch classes.

Survivors include his brother and wonderful family who he loved dearly; his three children he was so proud of; and best of all, his eight grandchildren; and the stars in his life were his five great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and many relatives.