Gerald Boyd Murrell

Gerald Boyd Murrell passed away at home in Cypress, Texas, on Thursday, June 13, 2019, at the age of 79, from a heart attack after a lengthy battle with cardiac and respiratory diseases. He was a cherished and much-loved husband, father, brother and friend with a good sense of humor that served him well in life.

Gerry was born in Corsicana, Texas, on August 2, 1939. He spent much of his youth in Palestine, Texas, before a family move to Tyler, Texas, in mid 1950’s where he attended Tyler High School and graduated from there in 1957. He formed very strong and lifelong friendships in high school, as he did at The University of Texas, Austin, where he graduated in 1964 and received his Petroleum Land Management Business Degree. Gerry treasured those relationships and fostered them throughout his life.

Between high school and UT, Gerry served with the Army stateside at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. He received his Honorable Discharge in February 1963. In his career as a Petroleum Landman, he worked for several companies: Tenneco Oil Company, Getty Oil Company and after a return in 1972 to Texas (Houston), also worked for IMC Exploration, Pelto and Energy Development Company as VP Land. After retirement he was active as a consultant & advisor to several intities within the petroleum industry.

During his life, Gerry had numerous interests: golf, most all sports-college and pro teams, reading-especially history, hunting and fishing--all things he loved doing, watching, reading about & sharing with his family and friends.

Gerry is preceded in death by his parents, Goodwin Boyd Murrell and Mary Ann Murrell Valentine; step-father, Coy Valentine; and a sister, Martha Murrell (Paul) Bruechner.

Gerry is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Mickey Wright Murrell, and his two sons, Tom Murrell and Wes Murrell and his wife, Marsha; and by four sisters: Linda Ott and her son; Marilyn (Steve) Meyers and their son, and daughter, and two twin grandsons; Joy Valentine (Ron) Haynes and their four children and their 11 grandchildren; Anne Kelly and her four children and one grandchild; and two cousins, Diane Willison and Sharon Molberg.

A brief memorial service will be held at 1:30 PM on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at the Houston National Cemetery located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. For further information about the service, call 281-447-8686 or visit online at: cem.va.gov/CEMs/nchp/houston. ~ In lieu of flowers in Gerry’s memory, the family requests that donations be made to the Houston SPCA: Call 713-869-SPCA (7722) / go online to houstonspca.org. or to your favorite charity or organization.