Clay McNitt Murray

A man of faith, family and service to his country, Clay McNitt Murray, age 99, passed away on Wednesday, June 10, 2015. He was born on December 3, 1915, in Chickasha, OK to Robert W. Murray and Ethel McNitt Murray. He married the love of his life, Jane Semple Murray, on June 7, 1946. She died on August 1, 2002. He and Jane are survived by: five children, Michael Murray and Susan Murray of Talala, OK; Janie Murray Kidd and Bill Kidd of Tulsa, OK; Kevin Murray and Annette Murray of Tulsa, OK; Katie Murray and Adolph Lechtenberger of Salt Lake City, UT; Melissa Murray of Tulsa, OK; and seventeen grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Tim & Lori Murray, Pat & Deanna Murray, Carl & Kelly Murray, Kelly & Thomas Hardy, Andrew & Whitney Murray, Claire Murray, Allie Lechtenberger, Joey Zannotti, Mara Zannotti, Kellen Murray, Katherine Murray, Mackenzie Murray, Adam Murray, Reed Murray, Collins Hardy, Chapman Clay Hardy, Darby Murray (deceased). Clay moved to Tulsa with his family in 1918 and in 1920 they joined the Parish of Christ the King Catholic Church. His Catholic Faith was a foundation and pillar of his life and later Clay wanted to become a priest. He attended Marquette School through 8th grade, before transferring to Cascia Hall for 9th through 12th grades, and was a member of the Cascia Hall Class of 1933. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living alumnus of Cascia. He earned a BS from Notre Dame University in 1937, an MBA from Columbia University in 1939, and began work on a PhD at Columbia in 1939. His Academic career was cut short in September 1939 when he was called to active duty in the United States Marine Corps, as a Second Lieutenant, when Germany invaded Poland. His Marine Corps career started in 1936 while at Notre Dame. After his junior year, he enrolled in the Marine Corps Reserve Officer Training Program, which continued through 1938 when he received his Reserve Commission as a Second Lieutenant. His Active Duty career in the Marine Corps went from September 1939 until May 1946, when he retired due to injuries. Clay was extremely proud of his Marine Corps service and always thought of himself as a Marine. He served 3 tours of duty overseas and was awarded 2 Purple Hearts. He was one of a very small number of Marines that saw combat in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters of World War II. He served in the 6th, the 5th and the 21st Regiments. In June 1941, as a 1st Lieutenant with the 6th Regiment, he was part of defensive efforts by the U.S. to keep Germany from expanding its influence in the Caribbean and Iceland. He sailed from San Diego through the Panama Canal to Martinique in the Caribbean. President Roosevelt was concerned that Germany was building a submarine base in Martinique and thought that 5,000 Marines would “persuade” the local government to say No to Germany. After success in Martinique, the 6th Regiment sailed in a Convoy with Battleships and Destroyers to Iceland. Several U.S. ships were sunk by German U-boats while on the way to Iceland. All this happened before the U.S. was officially at war. The 6th Regiment spent 9 months on Iceland to help keep Germany from establishing a Submarine base there, which could be used to attack merchant ships supplying Great Britain. In March 1940, the 6th Regiment returned to the U.S. and Clay was transferred to the 5th Regiment of the 1st Division. In August 1942, as a Captain, the 5th Regiment participated in the first U.S. Offensive Action against Japan with the attack on Guadalcanal. On Christmas Day 1943, the 5th Regiment landed on New Britain Island. Clay was injured and paralyzed before being evacuated and sent to a Naval Hospital in Boston for recovery. In 1944, as a Major, Clay joined the 21st Regiment of the 3rd Marine Division for the invasion of Guam. In February 1945, Clay saw his most intense combat on the island of Iwo Jima. He served as the Battalion Executive Officer and later the Commanding Officer. Elements of his Battalion were pinned down and suffering heavy losses due to a Japanese Machine Gun. Clay led an assault against the Japanese position and was severely wounded to his face, head and hand. All the knuckles on his left hand were shot off and half of his teeth were shot out. Several men who evacuated him to the beach on Iwo Jima died from Japanese mortar fire. On the beach, waiting and praying to be evacuated to the hospital ship offshore, Clay watched both Flag Raisings on Iwo Jima. On the hospital ship offshore, the surgeon “assigned to him” was his Tennis Doubles’ Partner from San Diego. This man took hours to reattach his fingers which had been shot off. With his days of combat over, Clay spent the next year in plastic surgery and recovery from injuries. It was during this time that the greatest joy of his life entered his life. On a blind date in Tulsa, he met Jane Semple. They were married at Christ the King Church in 1946 and were soul mates together for 56 years. They were blessed with 5 children: Mike, Janie, Kevin, Katie and Lisa. Much later, the blessings continued with 17 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Clay was a Landman for Amerada Petroleum (Amerada-Hess) from 1949 to 1985. Amerada had done geophysical work in North Dakota in the 20’s and 30’s and believed that North Dakota held great oil potential. In 1950, Clay established an office for Amerada in Williston. Shortly after opening the office in Williston, Amerada completed a key discovery well at Tioga, North Dakota, which helped establish the Williston Basin. The years in Williston were great for Clay’s career with Amerada and for his family. Clay, Jane and Mike were soon joined by Janie, Kevin, Katie and Lisa. In 1962, Clay was transferred back to Amerada’s headquarters in Tulsa, where he was a Land Manager until his retirement in 1985. More than his military and business success, the greatest source of pride and joy in his life centered on his Family and everything centered around Jane Murray. Later in his marriage, Jane developed Alzheimer’s. With strength from regular Mass and prayer and the wonderful staff at Saint Simeon’s in Tulsa, Clay helped care for Jane during her years battling Alzheimer’s. After losing Jane in 2002, and with a broken heart, he moved from Saint Simeon’s to Montereau where he lived the remaining years of his life. He had many great friends at Montereau and his family is deeply appreciative of the loving, caring service he received. These last years of Clay’s life were centered around time with his children and keeping up with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Earlier this week after a fall, Clay was admitted to St. John’s Hospital where he lived his last few days. A nurse asked him what he wanted, “I just want to join my wife in Heaven.” Wish granted, Semper Fi, Major Clay M. Murray, USMC. The family suggests that contributions in Clay’s honor be made to: The Employee Assistance Fund, Saint Simeon’s Foundation, 3701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Tulsa, OK 74106. A Funeral Prayer Service will be held at St. Rita’s Chapel, Cascia Hall, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 13, 2015. FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL 918-585-1151

Clay McNitt Murray

December 3, 1915 - June 10, 2015