Billy Jack Murray

Bill J. Murray died on November 14, 2020 at his home in Snyder, TX at the age of 86.  He leaves behind a legacy of love and strength for family and friends, hard work, no excuses and no regrets.

Bill was born in Bonham, Texas on May 9, 1934 to Jack and Ora Lea Murray.  He learned early in life to work hard, to be independent and to fight for the things he believed in.  Those attributes would stay with him throughout his life and in his final days.  His legacy has been left through passing these lessons down through his children and grandchildren.

He married the love of his life, Bobbie Doris Latham on July 19, 1953.  Married at a young age, they grew up together.  As an only child, he adopted the Latham family as his own.  The partnership in life that Bill and Bobbie forged on this earth would last 67 years, but will remain for eternity.

In 1958, they moved with their three children to Snyder where they raised Jackie, Vicki and Billy.  It was here that they carved out a life that was built on these simple concepts: love each other, work hard, take care of family and those that need you, be loyal and make sure you find time for sports.

His life was centered around family, the oil field where he would work for 62 years and his love for all levels of athletics.  For three decades he coached youth baseball in Snyder and attended countless sporting events involving his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  His love and sometimes hate relationship with the Dallas Cowboys was well known by his friends and family.  Sports became a common denominator for life lessons that he would teach.  When you get knocked down, get back up.  There is no substitution for hard work and being prepared.  If you get beat, don’t make excuses.  Do better the next time out.  If you don’t believe you can win, you won’t.

He was passionate in life and his opinions.  He loved to talk and to share stories.  He would give the shirt off his back to those that needed him.  And he would tell you he was sorry when he thought that he was wrong.

His children and grandchildren will always remember him by the life lessons he taught.  These lessons will forever be cherished and remembered.  Most importantly the lesson of love and family.  His family was the most important thing in his life and it was almost a mission for him to make sure they knew that.  He loved hard and he loved strong and he was loved just as fiercely in return.

His legacy will live on through Bobbie, his three children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

As Bill would say “At any rate; it is what it is.”