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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Scott Murray
SCOTT MURRAY
Cedar Rapids
Scott David Murray, 60, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, from complications of liver failure. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Per Scott's request, there will be no funeral.
Survivors include his mother, Jean Murray of Cedar Rapids; a brother and sister-in-law, Kevin Murray and his wife, Laura Murray, of Sac City, Iowa; a sister and brother-in-law, Susan Aspenson Murray and her husband, David Aspenson, of Black Forest, Colo.; his nephews, Wyatt Murray and his wife, Dani Murray, of Smithville, Mo., and Ethan Murray of Sac City.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Murray.
Scott was born Sept. 2, 1954, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the first son of Robert and Jean (Nelson) Murray. After graduating from Kennedy High School in 1972, he attended the University of Iowa for one year before moving to England to pursue his great love of music. After a year abroad, he returned to Cedar Rapids and began teaching a new generation of guitar players, first at Carma Lou's House of Music and later at The 16th Avenue Music Store.
He wrote music and played in many area bands of the day, such as Muzic, Blue Sparks, the Pete Turner Band and the Billy Null Band to name a few. As one friend said, no one had more influence on guitar players in Eastern Iowa than Scott Murray.
One of Scott's non-musical passions was studying philosophy, most recently taking online courses through the MIT Open Courseware program.
Scott's memory will live on through his wonderful circle of friends who continue to make music everyday. As the journalist Hunter S. Thompson said, "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
A memorial fund has been established to help provide musical instruments to children in Cedar Rapids who cannot afford them. You can learn more about that, read more tributes and contribute your own, on the "Scott Murray – A Celebration of Life!" page at www.Facebook.com/#!/ events/865875750089733/.
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