Finnie Ardrey Murray Jr.

Dr. Finnie Ardrey Murray Jr., 82, of Leicester, NC passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025 at the Solace Center in Asheville, NC.

Finnie was born on May 30, 1943 in Burgaw, NC (Pender County) to the late Finnie Ardrey Murray, Sr. (1986) and Lula Elizabeth Rooks Murray (1986). Finnie is also preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Kelly Smith; sisters, Elizabeth Murray Harmon, Zelma Murray Thomasson, Norma Murray Swann; and brother, Carl Elwood Murray.

Finnie lived and worked at universities in North Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Tennessee, Ohio, Arkansas, Texas, Nebraska, parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He lived in China for 2 years post-retirement.  He volunteered with Operation Crossroads Africa, a forerunner of the Peace Corps,  in 1963.  These experiences fulfilled a life-long passion for learning about, and experiencing, different cultures and countries.

Finnie holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Carolina State University, and a Ph.D. in animal science, physiology and biochemistry, from the University of Florida. In addition, he did postdoctoral study at the University of Colorado and the University of Tennessee.

His research work includes many peer-reviewed articles documenting research in reproductive mammalian physiology, an equally long list of papers presented at scholarly meetings, and more than $3 million in projects funded by federal, state and private sources. He taught biological sciences and zoology at the University of Tennessee, Ohio State University and Ohio University.

Dr. Murray was chair of the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department at Ohio University from 1989-1998.  Prior to the chair position, he directed the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program at that institution from 1985-1989.  Between 1998 and 2001 Dr. Murray was Dean of Arts and Sciences at Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.  Dr. Murray was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M University–Commerce, a position he held for nearly three years. He also held an appointment as interim provost and vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at TAMU-Commerce.

Dr. Murray was Vice Chancelor of Academic Affairs, University of Nebraska Kearney from 2004-2009.  After retiring, Dr. Murray was Assistant to Dean of International Studies, Shandong University, Weihei, China from 2009-2011.

Finnie was an accomplished woodworker, avid international traveler, and extensive reader. He loved gardening, adored wildflowers and roses, and enjoyed sports. Finnie was also a successful sheep husbander.

Surviving Finnie is his spouse of 52 years, Deborah Fiske Murray; Children,  Michael Edward Murray (Natale Kristen Polinko), of Asheville, NC, Matthew Justin Murray (Laura Woodruff Murray), of Oak Ridge, NC, Kathleen Murray Preble (Micheal Charles Preble), of Arlington, Tx; Sister, Helen Murray Bordeaux, of Wilmington, NC; and many other relatives. Finnie Sr. and Lula Murray’s numerous living descendants are a close-knit clan.

Finnie’s cremated remains are in a wooden urn Finnie made himself located in his last place of residence.

A celebration of Finnie’s life will be held in October at his residence.

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