William James Murray (Bill) was born in Amery, Wisconsin on January 6, 1935 in the upstairs bedroom of the home of his parents, James and Lillian (Eleanor) Murray. He grew up in Amery and Clayton, Wisconsin. On July 3, 1958, Bill and Betty Lou Wiuff were wed at St. Anne Catholic Church, Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. Bill and Betty were blessed with a family of five children, and made their home in Clayton, Wisconsin. In partnership with Bill's brother Norm Murray and his wife Joan, they purchased Dalberg Hardware from Bill and Norm's parents in 1965 and operated the hardware store until their retirement in 2001.

In 1990, Bill and Betty moved from Clayton to Bill's family home on North Twin Lake in Amery, Wisconsin. Despite loving Wisconsin, many winters, Bill and Betty spent time in Clearwater, Florida, and in recent years, wintered in Weslaco, Texas. Bill truly enjoyed time spent with family, playing his snare drum and singing in the choir at St. Joseph Catholic Church, golfing, fishing, waterskiing, and many winter sports. The story goes that he was able to waterski fully clothed by starting off the dock of their cottage on Balsam Lake, Wisconsin.

Surrounded by family, Bill went home to his Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at the Deerfield Arbor, New Richmond, Wisconsin.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved bride Betty, his parents James and Eleanor, and daughter Marcia Ann Murray.

Bill is survived by son James Murray (Kimberly), daughters Mary Murray, Chelle (Terry) Witthoft, Annette (Christopher) Rud, seven grandsons – Steven (Samantha) Witthoft, Ryan (Rachel) Witthoft, Adam Witthoft, Leonard Murray, Charles Murray, Noah Rud and Ethan Rud, six great granddaughters – Hannah, Hadley, Hazel, Reesa, Ruby, and Rosa Witthoft, one great grandson – Finley Witthoft, brother and sister-in-law Norman and Joan Murray, aunt Eileen Nevers, dear friends at the Deerfield Arbor and many more precious family members and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2019, at 11:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Amery, Wisconsin, with Father Jim Brinkman officiating. Visitation will be held at the Church one hour prior to the Mass. Interment at the Amery Cemetery will immediately follow the Mass.