Obituary of James B. Murray

James B. Murray, 76, of Jamestown, passed away on Saturday, August 15. 2020, in his home following a 5 year courageous battle with cancer. A lifelong area resident, he was born November 15, 1943 in Jamestown, NY a son of the late Thomas B. and Frances Lawson Murray. Jim was a 1962 graduate of Jamestown High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving from 1964 to 1967 stationed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and later in Dallas, Texas where he took part in missile testing. He was a former member of the Herman Kent Post 777 American Legion. Before his retirement in 2015, he had been employed by Hopes Windows for 46 years. He will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and brother who loved spending time with his family. He was an avid golfer and bowler and cherished the many years he was able to golf and bowl with his brothers Gary and Jeff. During those years he bowled a 300 game in the classic league and also achieved a hole-in-one at Jackson Valley Country Club. He also played softball for the former Hatch's and Puzzle Lounge Softball teams and coached the Hatch's Girls Softball Team. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Joanne C. Vitello Murray, two daughters; Cindy (Kevin) Herb, Sandra (Chuck) McNeal, four grandchildren; Lori McNeal, Cy Herb, Haili Herb, Logan McNeal all of Jamestown, two sisters; Barbara (Virgil) Metcalf of Cape Coral, FL, Loretta (Sam) Ammons of Ft. Myers, FL, a brother; Jeffrey M. (Karan) Murray of Jamestown, NY, as well as several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Gary T. Murray, sister-in-law, Sharon Murray and his aunts and uncles, Shirley and Alton Carlson and John and Helen Murray. Due to the current pandemic, a memorial mass will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Mausoleum. Memorials may be made to Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 West Fairmount Ave. Lakewood, NY 14750 or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box, 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.