Gerald Daniel Murley, born July 6, 1929, went to be with Jesus the morning of February 8, 2019. Gerald was the son of Iona Ozelle Daniel and John Ealy Murley, Sr. He lived a very full life from farming and fishing as a boy in Ripley, TN, to basketball, football and track as a young man at Messick High School, to insurance, real estate, community, church and government service as an adult. Gerald was very active in church at Frayser Baptist, Memphis, TN, Long Point Baptist, Houston, TX, and Eudora Baptist, Memphis, TN. He and Elizabeth Eaton Murley, his wife of 70 years, joined the fellowship of Kirby Woods Baptist after the disbanding of Eudora Baptist.

Gerald loved Memphis and was very active in his community. He was a lifelong member of the Lions Club, (annual family vacations were planned around their national conventions); a passionate leader of the March of Dimes; a representative in the Tennessee State Legislature, where he was a driving force on the bill to make Memphis State a university; a blue and gray all the way fan of the Memphis Tigers; a devoted Messick Panther through and through, (he organized Messick class reunions year after year until ill health prevented him continuing). He loved music, art, sports, woodworking, and generally fixing things and helping people. More than anything else, he loved his family and has left an endless supply of wonderful memories for each of us.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John Ealy Murley, Jr., and his son Gerald Daniel Murley, Jr. He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife Elizabeth, daughter Deborah Dawson (John), Memphis, daughter-in-law Joyce Hulm Murley, Franklin, TN, grandchildren Leah Wahl (Chris), Jackson Murley (Ethan Pan), Emily Dawson, John Dawson, Jr. (Keila), and Hannah Ingram (Eric); as well as five great grandchildren; Henry, Gemma, Miles and Peter Wahl, and Charlie Ann Ingram. A sixth great grand baby is due on Gerald's birthday.

A visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 pm on Monday, February 11th at Forrest Hill East Memorial Park (2440 Whitten Rd). A funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Gerald's life.