Louise Parrish Murray, R.N.

RALEIGH - On Tuesday May 9, 2023, Louise Parrish Murray, age 98, went to be in the more immediate presence of her Lord. She was born on a farm in the mountains of Swain County, NC. Her parents were Claude Truitt Parrish and Eula Morgan Parrish, who have preceded her in death. Also preceding her were her siblings Chloe, Wayne, Nell, Helen and Doris, and her husband Charles C. Murray, Jr.

Surviving Mrs. Murray are her brother Pete Parrish (wife Mary Lou) of Hickory, NC, her son Douglas Murray (wife Candace) of Weaverville, NC, her daughter Debra Murray of Raleigh, NC, her granddaughter Whitney Murray Lanier (husband Jay), and her great grandson August Lanier of Asheville, NC.

Louise graduated from the School of Nursing of Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem in 1946. She became the first operating room nurse supervisor of Johnston Memorial Hospital at its founding in the early fifties in Smithfield, NC. There in Smithfield she met her husband-to-be, Charles, a masonry subcontractor. They made their home first in Smithfield, then in Raleigh. Louise continued as a surgical nurse at Rex Hospital and later as a surgical nurse for plastic surgeon James Valone.

Louise was a dedicated member of Athens Drive Baptist Church, where she served as a Bible study leader, Deacon, and Director of the Woman’s Missionary Union. Other joys of her life included gardening, traveling, and returning often to her mountain roots.

The family is grateful to Heartfields of Cary, Wake Med in Cary, and Transitions Hospice of Raleigh for their compassionate care during the latter months of Mrs. Murray’s life.

A graveside service will be held at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 1:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at Athens Drive Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, with visitation at the church beginning one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Murray's memory to Athens Drive Baptist Church: 1601 Athens Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606.

Funeral Arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com