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Longtime Joplin journalist Thomas Patrick Murray, 60, died Saturday at his home after a three-month battle with cancer.
Murray, who started out as a sports writer for The Joplin Globe in the early 1960s, had been managing editor at the newspaper before he retired in 1997, editor Ed Simpson said. Murray also helped found the Joplin Business Journal.
Murray was born Sept. 21, 1945, in Joplin, to James Francis and Louise Godbout Murray. He was a graduate of McAuley High School and attended Pittsburg State University and Missouri Southern State University.
Murray also was a sports writer for the The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky.
Returning to Joplin as a sports writer, he later moved into management positions and spent 34 years at The Globe.
In September 2005, he was the founding editor of the Joplin Business Journal, which he served as publisher and executive editor at the time of his death.
Murray married Leah Alfers on March 17, 1973, in Axtell, Kan. She survives.
Other survivors include a daughter, Christine Cochran, of Washington, D.C.; a son, Sean, of Joplin; a sister, Kathleen Travis, Joplin; brothers James Murray of Salina, Kan., Jack Murray of Duenweg and Dick Murray of Bella Vista, Ark.; and numerous nephews and nieces.
The funeral service will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Joplin. Graveside service will be Wednesday at St. Michael's Cemetery, north of Axtell, Kan.
Memorial contributions can be made to McAuley Library or to the Sisters of Mercy-Omaha Region, Health and Retirement Fund, in honor of Tom Murray.
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