Dr. Gerry Murray

DR. GERRY MURRAY

Iowa City

Dr. Gerry Murray, 72, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 623 Fairchild St., Iowa City, with Father Gary Beckman officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Johnson County Crisis Center.

Dr. Gerry Murray was born Aug. 8, 1943, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to James and Mary Grace (Kehoe) Murray. Igniting a good-natured competition that lasted for life, his twin brother, Jim, beat him out of the womb, joining their sisters, Jeanine and Sheila. They all had a lifelong bond with each other. A truly self-made man, Gerry paid for his college education by buying, restoring and re-selling Corvettes. He owned many fast cars in his life, all of them incredibly lucky to be owned and cared for by him. Gerry went to college at the University of Iowa and earned a degree in marketing. He was working in human services in the Cedar Rapids/Marion area when he met Sally St. John, his co-worker at the time. Once they were together, they were inseparable. Sally moved into Gerry's cabin on the Waubeek River, and on Christmas Eve 1978, Gerry proposed to his best friend and soul mate. They were married in a restaurant in Independence by a justice of the peace on Feb. 23, 1979. On Aug. 10, 1979, their son, Justin, was born. His endless energy and shenanigans were eclipsed by his humor and charm. Gerry and Sally had their daughter, Beth, in 1981, whose compassion and heart was an echo of Gerry himself.

Gerry was an excellent father, the kind of person who became the best possible version of himself when he became a dad. He was beyond proud of his Irish twins. Gerry and Sally moved to Iowa City in 1983 and never left. After earning a master's degree in 1993, Gerry achieved his lifetime ambition and was awarded his Ph..D. in rehabilitation counseling in 2002. He became a professor, mentor and a highly respected member of his field. Gerry had a passion for research, mathematical statistics, game theory and continued to practice and enjoy all of it through his retirement. Gerry never stopped learning, teaching himself as he taught others. He was an exemplary professor who went to great lengths to help his students achieve their potential. As a peerless clinician and author, he received many job offers out of town but would always choose to stay in Iowa with his family.

Gerry is survived by his wife, Sally; two children, Justin and Beth Murray; a granddaughter, Audrey O'Brien; and sister, Sheila Siegel.

Gerry was preceded in death by his parents; and two siblings, Jeanine and twin brother, Jim, who is likely bailing out of trouble in heaven right now.

He passed from this world surrounded by his family and was loved more than he could ever comprehend.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.