Perry Austin Murray, a long-time resident of the Marion area of Union Parish, passed away at Union General Hospital, Farmerville, LA on August 3, 2023 at the age of 87.

Services will be held at Litroe Baptist Church on Monday, August 7, 2023. Visitation will be prior to the funeral service beginning at 10:00 AM, the service at 11:00 AM, followed by a short grave site service at Union Cemetery in Sadie, LA.

Perry was born on 28Apr1936 in Lillie of Union Parish to Melvis Murray and Mildred Odessa Taylor Murray. The Murray family settled into Marion where Perry graduated from Marion High School. Perry married Mary Helon Hale on 19Feb1954 and they began a life together of church, work, and family. After some early jobs, Perry worked at CSC in Sterlington as an electrician for almost 15 years while pursuing his dream of farming and making a life and family (two sons) in the Marion area. In his early life he enjoyed horses along with duck hunting with his brothers, nephews, and sons. He would even take a horse ride from Marion to the Litroe area farm of James G Hale where he courted Mary. After many years of work together with Mary, Perry was able to leave CSC and work full time at farming with the primary industry of commercial poultry production. Life is full of many experiences of which tragedy is one. Mary Helon was stricken with cancer and passed away in 1983. Perry remarried to Shirlene Fondren Arnold and continued with a life of experiences of continued work, transition to retirement at the age of 62, and a number of trips around the USA and Canada with Shirlene. Shirlene passed away in early 2022. Perry continued life in north Union parish where he loved to be. He made an enjoyable family trip to the Florida Keys in late 2022 with its experiences. He maintained independent living which he valued but illness issues became more pressing in the first part of 2023. We will miss Perry's voice, view of the world, his Christianity, his unique use of the word "boloney", his frugality, and love of the simple things; limon meringue pie, watermelon, Hershey kisses, Mooo bars, and cornbread with buttermilk.

Perry was preceded in death by his parents, Melvis and Mildred; first wife, Mary; sister Lou Etta; brothers, Mack, Paul, and Rickey; son, David; sister-in-law Gloria Murray; granddaughter, Casey Beaird; great granddaughter, Billie Beaird; son-in-law, Paul Mashburn; mother-in-law, Edna Arnold; fathers-in-law, Edward Arnold and C.W. Sehon; brother-in-law John Arnold.

Perry is survived by his sister Dianne and brother-in-law Robert Gulley; brother-in-law's, Terry Fondren and wife Pam, and Eugene Fondren; sister-in-law, Linda Murray, Icea Lee Murray, Janie Pearson; daughter-in-law, Robin Goleman and husband Jim; son-in- law, Pat Arnold and wife Jeri; son, Rick Murray and wife Cheryl; grandchildren, Jeremy Winter, Sierra Beaird, Sami Arnold and husband Spencer, Sidney Arnold and husband Aron, Autumn Gaspard and husband Michael, Nicholas Murray and wife Mel, Taylor Murray and wife Lindsay; great grandchildren, Olivia Murray, Clara Murray, Madeline Murray, Kolton Murray, Willow Beaird, and Lainey Weaver; sisters-in-law, Margene Yagel, Wilda Arnold; along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Special thanks to the doctors, nurses, CNAs, and case managers that cared for him at St. Francis Hospital, Union General Hospital, and Arbor Lake. Thanks to all who prayed, offered and gave help, took care of loose ends, and visited him during the last months of his life. He appreciated it greatly. There are always too many to properly thank.

Pallbearers are Taylor Murray, Nicholas Murray, Nathan Murray, John Murray, William Bell, Pat Arnold. Honorary pallbearers are Lawrence Lane and Robert Gulley.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Union General Hospital, Farmerville, LA, https://www.uniongen.org/memorial-and-honor-gifts/ and to Litroe Baptist Church where Perry was a member.