John Gibson Murray, Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, died March 28, 2018 at Carolinas Medical Center. He was 65.

The eldest son of the late John Gibson "Speck" Murray and Anne Ray Murray, John was born January 10, 1953 in Franklin, North Carolina. An Eagle Scout, he graduated from Franklin High School, from Wingate College, and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Coming to Charlotte in 1975, he began a long, dedicated, and fruitful career with WBTV that would run until 2015, when he retired as director of the morning news program after 39 years with the company. On April 14, 1979, he married the love of his life, the former Julia Lawrimore of Georgetown, South Carolina.

Always a woodworker, gardener, hobbyist, and cheerful helper to friends and family, John continued active involvement with the Piedmont Garden Railroad Club and the Speedway Harley Davidson Club in retirement, while taking up a new hobby - seeing America with Julia in their recreational vehicle.

To celebrate John's life, the family will hold a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2018, in the chapel of Westminster Presbyterian Church, 101 Colville Road, Charlotte, Rev. Trevor Smith officiating. The family will receive friends at the church beginning an hour before the service. A private burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Franklin will be held at a later date.

Preceded in death by his parents, John is survived by his wife, Julia Lawrimore Murray of Charlotte; a brother, David R. Murray (Jan) of Charlotte; a sister, Pattie M. Ramsaur (David) of Lumberton; a niece, Kristin Hollingsworth (—Jeff) of Winston-Salem; a nephew, Johnson Ramsaur of Boston, MA; a niece, Elizabeth Ramsaur of Salisbury; a devoted cousin, Crossley E. Willis, Ill, of Birmingham, AL; an aunt, Glenda P. Murray, of Apex; and other special cousins and in-laws, all of whom he treasured.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association, 128 South Tryon Street, #1588, Charlotte, NC 28202, or to a charity of one's choice.

From the funeral program

This tribute was written by John Carter, WBTV Anchor/Reporter, and was delivered on-air by Paul Cameron on March 31, 2018.

John Murray worked behind the scenes on the production staff at WBTV for 39 years.

Mr. Murray—or Murray as we all called him—was a jack of all trades.

There wasn’t anything he couldn’t operate, build or fix. He loved his projects and loved to work with his hands. John never spent an idle moment at work—he was always finding something to do—and to the chagrin of some, something to do for anyone else who might be around him!

John was old school—but he could still keep up with the young video whizzes when it came to punching all the buttons on the ever technologically changing director’s console.

Over the years, John mentored and taught countless others the WBTV way of doing things—which eventually became known as the “Murray” way.

He loved model trains—and had an extensive train layout in his backyard—a place he loved to have folks visit.

He was also a motorcycle enthusiast—traveling thousands of miles across the country on his Harley—regaling us with stories of incredible sights and places of interest. Most of those trips made with Julia…his wife and the love of his life.

Although it wasn’t planned, John took part in a unique medical treatment that has since become a norm for treating for heart attack victims. When John unexpectedly had a heart attack while setting up WBTV coverage for a First Night Celebration in uptown Charlotte many years ago, doctors immersed him in a special ice solution that helped stabilize his condition. He survived when many thought he wouldn’t—and continued to work at WBTV for several more years before retiring in 2015.

There has never been a more dedicated worker at WBTV than John Murray. He exemplified loyalty…and had a work ethic second to none. Always a smile on his face, he was a friend to all and would give you the shirt off his back. John was never on camera—but the work he did helped shape the look and feel of WBTV. He left quite a mark here and his presence at WBTV will be felt forever.