Louise Venning McMurry, age 88, passed away peacefully at White Oak Manor on January 7, 2019. Born on March 19, 1930 in Charleston, SC, Louise was the daughter of the late Elias Venning and Rachael Doyle Venning of 16 Tradd Street. She attended Parochial School of Charleston and graduated from the College of Charleston in 1950. Voted most outstanding woman leader on campus, Louise was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority where she served as president and attended the 1947 National Conference in Banff, Canada. While in Charleston, Louise met her beloved husband, John Eugene McMurry, a Shelby native and graduate of The Citadel. They married on December 2, 1950 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston.
After moving to Shelby, NC, Louise was active in her church and community. She was a long-time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where she served as volunteer Faith Formation Coordinator and Teacher for 28 years, Chairman of the Parish Council, Chairman of the Building Committee for the new church, organizer of the Young at Heart Senior Group, and Eucharistic Minister to the sick and Sacristan for 40 years. In 2000, Louise was appointed to the Strategic Planning Committee for the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and later, to the Task Force on the Aging. She received a special recognition for her years of service from Pope John Paul, II in 1997. While her faith always came first, Louise was equally devoted to her family, friends and community. She was a sustaining member of the Shelby Junior Charity League and when active, held positions as Vice President and Secretary. She served on the Human Relations Council of Shelby and as a United Way Board Member. With a child or grandchild in the Shelby City School System from 1958 to 2013, Louise attended numerous sporting events and held season tickets to Shelby High Football games for more than 40 years. In 2012, Louise received the Sports Fan of the Year from Cleveland County Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sports Hall of Fame. Louise was a faithful member of the Tuesday Forum Book Club and the Wednesday Ladies Bridge Club. She loved gardening, cooking, reading and spending time on the water.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Eugene McMurry, of Shelby, and her brother, Commander Elias Venning, Jr. of Annapolis, MD.
Louise is survived by her four sons, Dr. John Eugene McMurry, Jr. and his wife Marna of Wilmington, NC, Andrew Venning McMurry and his wife Patti of Shelby, Simeon Avery McMurry and his wife Debbie of Shelby, Elias Venning (Skip) McMurry and his wife Michelle of Statesville, NC and two daughters, Rachael Louise (Lucy) McMurry Ward and her fiancé Datha London of Delran, NJ and Lynn McMurry Grayson and her husband Brent Grayson of Charlotte, NC; as well as 15 grandchildren, Joy McMurry, Paul McMurry, Patrick McMurry, Win McMurry White, Allison McMurry Cordell, John Ward, Monica McMurry Thomas, Tiffany McMurry, Dustin McMurry, Zachary McMurry, Avery Grayson, Andrew Grayson, Owen Grayson, Caroline McMurry and Elias McMurry; and eight great grandchildren, Addison McMurry, Presley Thomas, Augustine Cordell, Cordelia Cordell, Mary Jane Eva Cordell, Wells White, Julia McMurry and Reese McMurry.
A Resurrection Mass to celebrate the life of Louise McMurry will be held at 1:00p.m. on Friday, January 11, 2019 at St. Mary Help of Christians Parish, Shelby, NC with Rev. Father Paul Gary, celebrant. Family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by Recitation of the Rosary on Thursday, January 10th at Cecil Burton Funeral Home. At all other times, the family will receive friends at the home or Andy and Patty McMurry. A burial service will be held immediately following the funeral at Sunset Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to St. Mary Help of Christians Parish at 818 McGowan Road, Shelby, NC; or Hospice of Cleveland County 951 Wendover Heights Drive
Shelby, NC 28150.
Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. McMurry.
Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com.
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