Sylvia Murray

Sylvia Irene Murray, age 71, joined our Lord in His heavenly kingdom on the 23rd day of October, 2020.

My beautiful wife Sylvia passed away peacefully Friday night with my son and I at her side after a valiant battle with breast cancer. Sylvia was born in Laredo and graduated from Martin High and Texas A&I Kingsville. Her creativity was recognized with an art scholarship to Texas A&I. We met and married in 1972 while I was stationed at Laredo Air Force Base. Upon separation from the Air Force we moved to Miami, Fl to pursue my airline career. She and I enjoyed 16 years in Miami where she discovered a love for working in the cruise line industry and channeled her creativity into beautiful meals, living spaces and garden, where she became the “palm lady” as she liked to say. After some tribulations we were blessed with her loving son, James, and then some other trying circumstances, which she endured like a trooper, brought us to Laredo in 1989. Her creativity was then channeled to a neglected house in the Heights, built circa 1930s, as well as homemaking, mommying,  the “casitas”, and her rescue dogs, the most current one being Riley who wishes he could talk as he probably noticed something before anyone else did. She lived for her son and would be a fierce defender if ill will was directed at him. That put her in close friendship with her likeminded mom comadres, Carmen and Karen, which lasts to this day. My retirement brought some memorable trips to Argentina and Paris but somehow our travel bug gravitated to College Station, James College, and then Galveston for med school, residency in New Orleans and visits to Houston for her sister Martha’s family occasions. She was so proud of James. Semi-retirement also brought a new circle of treasured “Pata pals” and Mah Jong pals. I had 48 beautiful years with her and will miss my beautiful Sylvia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernesto Lopez and Mercedes Lopez

Left to cherish her memory are husband, James F. Murray, son James E. Murray, granddaughter Isabella Adaline Murray, sister Martha Lopez, aunt, Ofelia Lopez Serna, nieces, Audrey Jean Harsell, Katie Jean Edwards, cousins, Terri Hinojosa, Juan Garza Lopez, Elvia G. Benavides, Raquel Garza Lopez, Leopoldo Garza Lopez, Lucy Martin, and Joseph Martin, as well as her beloved Murray brothers and sisters-in-law and Murray nieces and nephews.

**Due to existing COVID-19 restrictions, we advise all who wish to attend the service to ensure proper safeguarding procedures of social distancing and the wearing of a face covering/mask at all times while inside the funeral home.  If you are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19, we ask you do not enter the building.  Online condolences may be extended to the family at the funeral home website below.**

The family will be receiving condolences on the evening of October 27th, 2020 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd.; where a vigil for the deceased will begin at 7 p.m.  The service will be transmitted via Facebook live at: www.facebook.com/JJFC.INC

All services will conclude at the end of the visitation.  Cremation will be held at a later date.

Honorary Pallbearers will be: John Cox, Dr. Manuel Gonzalez, James E. Murray, Jacob Rathmell, Armando Gonzalez and Robert Rathmell.

The family would like to extend their most heartfelt gratitude to: Drs. Selina Stuart, Mohsen Ghadimi-Mahani, the Nursing Staff at LMC Infusion Center, the Nursing Unit 5 Staff at LMC and Nurse Rosie Talamantes of Serenity Home Hospice Care for their care of Sylvia.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider making a donation to: The Susan G Khomen Foundation online at: https://ww5.komen.org/Donate/Donate.html or a breast cancer charity/foundation of your choosing.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041; (956)722-8850.