Leaving a Legacy: Marion E. Murrell spent 95 years as a Navy man and a family man, both of which made his impact endless

Born on August 24, 1928, in Champaign, IL, Marion E. Murrell was a Navy man through and through. He dedicated so much of his life to serving his country proud, and he did so with a lot of integrity.

Murrell served during two of the biggest wars in history – World War II and the Korean War – as a Disbursing Clerk 2 (DK2). He might not have always been on the frontlines, but that does not mean he was not making an impact. He was responsible for the personal financial records of many of his fellow military brethren, showing a certain level of trust and respect he carried.

Murrell’s military legacy is a great reminder that service members make impacts in many different ways. Every member of the Navy plays a vital role in keeping their country safe, and Murrell was no different.

After his discharge, Murrell decided to enter the aerospace industry, where he was an analytical engineer. He was someone who did a lot of work for Boeing (known back then as North American Rockwell), along with much else in the aerospace industry.

Murrell’s impact was made wherever he went, and that impact went well beyond his military and aerospace careers. While those were both a big part of who he was, Murrell was also a family man through and through.

Murrell was a doting father, grandfather and great grandfather, and his family all very much appreciated him. They loved hearing his stories from his military career, but even more importantly, they just loved how wonderful a patriarch he was. Murrell had a big heart, and his family was always the most important thing to him.

His children – George and Linda – and stepchildren – Alan and JoAnn – looked up to the wonderful man Murrell was. He was a role model to them, and he was someone they very much appreciated.

His in-laws – Keith, Debbie, Page, Ashley, Lisa, Whitney – are all glad to have married into a family with such a great patriarch and leader.

Murrell’s grandchildren – Brendan, Kristy, Luke, Rick, Keith, Kenny, Erika, Taylor, Courtney and Claire – all enjoy reflecting upon the memories they have of their grandfather. They know how much he cared about his career and his family, and they loved that about him.

Meanwhile, Murrell’s great grandchildren – Kinley, Adler, Charlie, Winston, Barrett and Lance – all have a legacy they can hope to one day live up to. Murrell lived a life of passion, compassion, kindness, love, dedication and commitment, and his legacy will not be forgotten. He may be gone from this earth, but his presence will always be felt by many, and the appreciation for the man that was Marion Murrell spreads far and wide.