Orland Murray McNeely, Attorney at Law, loving husband, and father of five, went to be with the Lord on February 7, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas, after a short battle with Covid. We will celebrate his life of 80 years at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2021, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. In support of the health of his family, face coverings are mandatory while attending the service. The service will be live-streamed here on this page where you are encouraged to sign the virtual guestbook and download his memorial keepsake to your device for printing.Murray was born on April 11, 1940, in Lubbock, TX. His mother, Cartha Jean Currey, worked hard to provide for Murray and his sister Karen Cole and raise them to be their best.Murray went to Lubbock High School, where he played the trumpet in the band and has been drumming his fingers to the beat of the music ever since. He graduated in 1958 and went on to study architecture at Texas Tech for several years before changing majors to pre-law and history.Murray married the love of his life Jean Forrest McNeely, who he almost didn’t date because she is an inch taller, in December 1962, establishing the McNeely Family and having their first child, David Forrest McNeely, in Oct 1963.Murray was active at Texas Tech as he joined the US Army ROTC program and was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He graduated from Texas Tech in 1964 and went on to serve as a Captain in the US Army until 1966 after the Army had transferred him to serve in Army Intelligence in Jackson, Mississippi. While he was serving in the Army, he went to the Jackson School of Law at night in order to get his law degree in 1966 and passed the Bar exam solidifying his ability to practice law in Mississippi.Murray got his first job as a lawyer at Young, Young, and Scandlin in Jackson but later decided to branch out and start his own law firm O. Murray McNeely, Attorney at Law, where he focused his practice on civil law. During this time in Mississippi, he and Jean grew their family to 5, adding Kevin Murray McNeely, Russell Lamar McNeely, Jennifer Jean McNeely Hise, and Christina Jean McNeely Truitt. (I sense a trend here with Jean.)After the great flood of 79 in Jackson, he decided to move the family home to West Texas in 1981, where he started work with a local law firm before branching out again on his own.Murray was also passionate about teaching others through his work teaching Business Law at Wayland, as well as serving on the Advisory Council for Wayland Lubbock Campus. He has also served as the President of the Boys and Girls Club and President of the Texas Boys Ranch.He is survived by his wife Jean Forrest McNeely, Sister Karen Cole, his five children, and 11 grandkids.
- David & Tracey – 2 grandkids; Eian, Kiera
- Kevin & Tonya- 3 grandkids; Anna, Ashlyn, Kaden
- Jennifer & Tom – 2 grandkids; Robert, Kathryn
- Russell & Annie – 2 grandkids; Kara, Zachary
- Christina & Chris – 2 grandkids; Petra, Levi
Send Flowers or a Gift