Biography: John McLeod Murray Jr., age 87, of Little Rock passed away on August 13, 2023.

John, born October 10, 1935 in Memphis, TN, was the son of John McLeod Murray and Juanita Brame Murray. He was predeceased by his parents; his five sisters Margie Dean Skinner, Dorothy Murray, Ann Davis, Julia Stribling and Maxine Parker; his first wife and mother of his children Cooper Turner Murray; a  granddaughter Taylor Murray; and son in law Paul Rice.

John graduated from Marion Institute in Marion, Alabama where he was a varsity athlete and president of his graduating class. He enlisted in and proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corp. After his service, he returned to Memphis and began a successful career in sales, culminating in his career in investment banking with firms and banks in Memphis. In 1993, as a Managing Director of Morgan Keegan, he came to Arkansas to assist with the opening of the firm’s Little Rock office.

Upon his retirement from the investment banking industry, John focused on his spiritual life and joined Immanuel Baptist Church with the guidance and encouragement of William H. (Buddy) Sutton and former Pastor Dr. Gary Hollingsworth. John also worked to maintain his health by becoming a gym rat with 19 of those years working out with Orlando Thomas and his trainers, even in the last months of his life.

John deeply loved his family. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Robben Murray of Little Rock; his daughters Lisa Rice, Gena Mandle (Mike), and Christian Mahoney, all of Jackson, TN; sons Cooper D. Murray (Kristine) of Apex, NC and John (Tripp) M. Murray III (Maureen) of Germantown, TN; thirteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St., Little Rock on Saturday August 19, 2023 with visitation at 10:30 a.m. and services at 11:30 a.m.  Dr. Gary Hollingsworth presiding. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org; International Mission Board, generosity@imb.org; or Our House, ourhouseshelter.org. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com