Obituary of Gary Lynn Murrell

Gary Lynn Murrell was born on January 5, 1950 in Memphis, TN. to Hazel Fentress Jones and Odessa Evans. Gary spent most of his youth growing up in Dixonville, TN, where he met some of his life-long friends. As a youth, Gary loved to dance, was good with math, and loved to draw. Though he was not on a team, Gary loved to play sports, or anything that got him outside. He attended school at George R. Ellis in Munford, TN, his elementary through high school years, where he graduated with the class of 1968. After graduation Gary and friend Curtis Lewis moved to Lansing, MI. He was employed by the Fisher Body division of GM in 1968 until he retired in 2007 after 39 years. He served his country by enlisting in the United States Army in 1974, where he served as a cook in the field. After the army, he joined the Michigan National Guards 119th and enjoyed the monthly training exercises. He retired on his birthday in 2010 as Staff Sergeant after serving honorably for 36 years. Gary was a funny, generous person, always smiling, never complaining, even in the midst of life’s challenges his response was laughing at everything saying “I'm fine!” He loved his family and friends, who affectionately called him "Lynn," “Gary Lynn,” and “abuelito,” Spanish for “granddaddy”. Gary loved to drive and traveled all over visiting his family, friends and yours too, but you had to ride shot-gun, even if the road trip was your idea! Gary was known for possessing many skills; he loved to cook, reupholster furniture, fix cars, and volunteered for charity and church events. If you needed help with anything, you called Gary, who would help until the job was done, saying "if you're gonna do it, don't half do it; do it right!" Gary enjoyed watching sports, especially professional wrestling, and often would crack up laughing when the wrestlers got slammed to the mat. Among his other pastimes were playing chess and bones (dominoes), and watching westerns. Gary accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age and faithfully tuned in to watch Bishop G.E. Patterson every week. He began attending Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Lansing, MI, Pastor John I. Williams, where he was a faithful member and affectionately known as "the Dancing Deacon" because of how he danced during praise and worship. In his later years, Gary suffered profound health challenges that led to his disability. Shortly after the health challenges, Gary moved to Davenport, FL with daughter Kimetra, his caregiver, and her family in August 2011. After moving to Florida, he occasionally attended Dream Life Center Church in Orlando, FL, Pastors Drs James and Stacia Pierce and he loved watching Joel Olsteen on tv weekly. Gary began using a scooter to get around. He loved the Florida sunshine and took daily rides in his scooter visiting his many friends. The neighborhood kids loved him and would check on him if he didn’t come out riding. Gary showed resilience to keep going, no matter what life threw at him. Gary departed this life on Friday, October 8, 2021 in Orlando, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents; Mr. Odessa Evans, Chicago, IL and Hazel Fentress Jones, Memphis, TN, his siblings; Helene Murrell, Anita Jones Warren, Eunicestine St. Leger, Danny Murrell and Larry Murrell all of Memphis, TN. Gary leaves to cherish his memory, his five children: Atavion Wray, Lansing, MI, twin daughters; Kifara (Cameron) Rodgers, East Lansing, MI, Kimetra (Daryl, Jr.) Newell, Davenport, FL, Gary Murrell II, Lansing, MI and Brandee (Tim) Butler, Tulsa, OK; his siblings, Amelia Malone, Cordova, TN and Jeffrey Murrell, Memphis, TN; twelve grandchildren: Kierra Wray; T’Lonie Babcock, Daryl III, Darmetra, D’Aundra Newell, Jeremiah and Jazzmyne Rodgers; Sa’Rae-Nicole, Christian, and Za’Kari Murrell; Reina Ester and Brandelyn Butler. He also leaves special friends Dalton Jenkins, George Dillard, and James Henry; former wife, QueenEsther Murrell; Inetta Wray, and a host of cherished friends and family.