Arthur Kit Murray

Arthur W. "Kit" Murray, age 92, of Clifton, passed away late Monday morning, July 25, 2011 at West Rest Haven in West. A Memorial Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption in West, with the Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrant. Mr. Murray was born December 26, 1918 in Cresson, PA the son of Charles C. and Elsie (Espy) Murray. On May 8, 1970 he was united in marriage to Ann Tackitt Humphreys in Dallas. He served his country with the United States Air Force from 1939 to 1961 before retiring at the rank of Colonel. He was an experimental test pilot and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters. He was the first pilot to see the curvature of the earth and set the altitude record of over 90,000 feet. Kit was a member of the Fellows of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and recipient of the French Medal of the City of Paris. In 1996, he was inducted into the Aerospace Walk of Honor in Lancaster, CA that honors test pilots who have contributed to aviation and space research and development. After retirement he managed a hunting club, flew some charter work for Mustang Aviation in Dallas then did some courtroom reporting for the Bosque County newspaper. Kit also was project manager for the restoration of the Bosque County Courthouse, taking it back to its 1886 splendor. He enjoyed riding horses and flying. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic church of the Assumption in West. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Dorothy Murray Bayer. Survivors include his beloved wife of 41 years, Ann Murray of Clifton; five sons, Michael Murray and wife Jan of Bellevue, WA, John Murray and wife Anne and Peter Murray, all of Seattle, WA, Christopher Murray and wife Elna of Lihue, HI, and Patrick Murray of Philadelphia, PA; a daughter, Catherine Murray and husband Vincent Herberholt of Seattle, WA; three step daughters, Lynn Weaver and husband Dennis of Las Vegas, NV, Leigh Humphreys of West, and Laura Howard of Castroville; 16 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren; a step great grandchild; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.