Thomas "Tom" Murray

Thomas Alfred "Tom" Murray, 77, a longtime Casa Grande resident, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Sept. 28, 2014, after courageously battling multiple illnesses.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel. The funeral will follow at 11, with Pastor Morris Pruit officiating. A graveside service will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.

Mr. Murray was born on April 20, 1937, in Fellowsville, West Virginia, to Thomas and Edith (Sigley) Murray. He left school early to help support his widowed mother, taking a job in a coal mine, which led to a long career in mining. He met the love of his life, Alma Hyatt, in Fairmont, West Virginia, in 1956, and they married in June 1958. After the birth of their first daughter, Debbie, in 1959, they followed family members to Douglas, where their other daughter, Brenda, was born in 1960.

He returned to mining in Bisbee, where he worked for 16 years until the copper mine closed. In 1976, they moved their family to Casa Grande, where he continued working until Lakeshore Mine closed in 1984. He later became maintenance supervisor at McDonald’s for 30 years and retired from Souza Enterprises in June. His friend Bob Souza and the company held a tribute luncheon for him on Aug. 19. He loved watching sports and old westerns, gambling, hunting and some cooking, often combining those to serve as camp cook. He lived life to the fullest and "told it like it was." He enjoyed his cat, Missy.

Preceded in death by his wife of 491⁄2 years, he is survived by his daughters, Deborah S. Chealander of Fernley, Nevada, and Brenda K. Schroeder of Phoenix; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to: National Kidney Foundation of Arizona, 360 E. Coronado Road, No. 180, Phoenix, AZ 85004, or Hospice Compassus, 1675 E. Monument Plaza Circle, Casa Grande, AZ 85122.