Richard "Dick" Walter Murray

Dick Murray, 84, an Asheville area resident since 2004, died at his home Tuesday, February 6. He had been struggling with the last stages of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis since January of 2023. An advertising executive by profession, and a gregarious, optimist by personality, Dick dealt with his illness with the same faith and good nature that guided his entire life.

Born in November of 1939, Dick spent his first ten years in Springfield, Ohio, before moving to Hamburg, NY with parents Martha and Ed Murray and little brother Edward John (“EJ”) . Raised in the Catholic faith, he attended Catholic high school, Bishop Timon in Buffalo, NY, and college, John Carroll University in Cleveland. He graduated with a major in English and an ROTC commitment of six months in the Army. He was always proud to say that he protected us, (“us” meaning anyone near him at the time), from the Cuban Missile Crisis, by standing ready for war on an island near Ft. Lauderdale. While it never threatened Dick or the beaches of Fort Lauderdale, the Missile Crisis added a year to his Army tour. Afterward, Dick headed to New York to explore what he hoped would be a career in advertising.

His hope turned into reality, and during his 40 years in the world of advertising, he worked for a number of agencies, including. Benton & Bowles, William. Esty, McCaffrey & McCall, and DDB Needham. His clients over the years included Proctor & Gamble, General Foods, Texaco, R.J. Reynolds, Hiram Walker, Renault, Amtrak, Campbell Soup and others.

Dick’s first marriage, to Helen O’Brien, now Helen Hovdesven, produced three more Murrays: Edward O’Brien, Michael Joseph and Colleen Elizabeth. These three, along with his grandchild, Anne Sullivan Doyle, married to Wesley Doyle, and most recently, his great grandchild, Cora Kathleen Wesley Doyle, were Dick’s pride and joy. In addition, Dick is survived by two Murray cousins, Edward (Eddie) and Patrick. On his mother’s side, he is survived by his close (in looks and friendship) first cousin John Atkins of Urbana, Ohio.

In January of 1989 Dick married Vinton Taylor in New York City. Within a matter of weeks after the “I do’s,” Dick was offered a transfer to Dallas where he would open a new office for DDB Needham to service American Airlines International and GTE. In 1991 Dick joined The Richards Group, a private ad agency known for its highly creative and successful campaigns, including Motel Six’s “We’ll leave the light on for you,” and Chick Fil A’s “Eat Mor Chiken.”.. A Principal at the agency for 13 years, Dick had a number of clients, including Corona Beer, Heilman Beer and The Florida Citrus Commission. In 2004, after a long and late night entertaining a potential client, Dick came home and said he thought it was time to leave advertising to the young folk. He retired shortly thereafter, and the Murrays moved to Asheville, Vinton’s hometown, which happened to also be home to one of Dick’s favorite golf courses.

Throughout his life, Dick’s priorities were clear: family, work, and community , and then, of course (pun intended), his golf game. Known for telling (and re-telling) stories and jokes, Dick loved making his friends, family and fellow golfers laugh and smile. The stories might be about meeting a celebrity on a plane (Muhammed Ali) or on an ad shoot (Jack Benny, know for saying “Well”….with a flip of the hand). Dick always told any tale as if it were the first time. His family and close friends were mostly patient with the repeats.

No matter where Dick lived, he volunteered his time and talent to improve the community. In Briarcliff Manor, the town where he and Helen lived while raising their children, he served on the school board, was a trustee for the Village of Briarcliff Manor, served as mayor for a term, and was chairman of the Youth Council. In Asheville, Dick volunteered his time on the Episcopal Diocese of WNC’s Steering Committee, and served on the board of Lake Logan Conference Center as both member and chair. With friend Jim Lenburg, senior lecturer at the formerly titled Center for Creative Retirement at UNC Asheville, the two initiated a mentor program between members of the Center and student athletes at the university. Dick’s students included two basketball players, a baseball player, and four swimmers, two of whom were identical twins.

Among his retirement activities, Dick was proudest of his work with fellow alumnus and Army buddy Gerry O’Connell in creating the John Carroll University Class of 1961 Scholarship Fund. Since 2006, Dick wrote an annual letter to his classmates updating them on the scholarship’s financial status and its impact on the student recipients. In the past eighteen years, the scholarship has been awarded to twenty-seven different individuals. Dick cherished the letters of appreciation he received each year from the students who received aid from the scholarship.

In late Spring of 2023 Dick realized his days of playing the game of golf were coming to an end. His lungs just weren’t up to the task anymore. He told Vinton and his children, “I’ve lived a great 84 years. I’ve had two wives, three children, three golden retrievers, and a career I loved, balanced by a golf game that kept me humble. When the Good Lord wants me, I’ll be ready.”

And so it happened for this wonderful man last Tuesday the 7th. Safe travels, my sweet.

“May the road rise to meet you…and may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

To prevent the possible spread of Covid and flu viruses, currently circulating throughout Asheville and Buncombe County, the funeral will not be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, as originally planned. Dick’s ashes will be buried alongside his wife’s parents and brother’s graves at Calvary Churchyard in Fletcher, NC. The graveside service will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Following the service, a reception for family and friends will be held on the terrace of the Biltmore Forest Country Club overlooking the golf course Dick loved so much.

For anyone interested in making a memorial contribution in Dick’s name, the family’s recommendation is the scholarship he co-founded at his alma mater, John Carroll University. Checks may be made out to: JCU Class of 1961 Scholarship Fund and mailed to University Advancement, Attn: Ryan Daly, John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH 44118.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.