Raymond J. Murray

Ray Murray, a big-hearted and irreplaceable husband, father, son, brother and friend, died Thursday, Nov. 28 suddenly and unexpectedly from heart complications. He was 51. 

Ray was a skilled union carpenter and foreman who helped build soaring skyscrapers in New York City and Boston. On the morning of 9/11, Ray was working uptown and joined those who ran toward the disaster. He spent five days on rescue efforts clearing debris. 

He built wooden forms for concrete, a specialized branch of carpentry. Ray worked in complex urban environments, first in New York and then in Boston when his wife Sara Wylie became a professor at Northeastern University. He was part of building landmarks such as One Dalton Street in Boston and AOL Time Warner Center (now Deutsche Bank Center) in New York City. 

He belonged to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local Union 608 and 157 in New York City and the New England Regional Carpenters Local Union 327 in Boston, where he worked for G&C Concrete and S&F Concrete.

Work was just one part of Ray’s joyful life. At Bobby McGee’s nightclub, a restaurant with singing waiters in Phoenix, he created a character called Dr. Howie Feelin’ and serenaded diners. He taught himself to play guitar, and unabashedly played at every chance and around any campfire. He was a devoted follower of music artists Phish, Prince and the Old 97's and the New York Rangers ice hockey team.  

Ray and Sara first met in the ‘90s in Woods Hole, Mass. through their connections with the Marine Biological Laboratories. They reunited two decades later and began falling in love while eating soft serve and gazing at the Statue of Liberty. At the time, Ray was part of crews rebuilding 2 and 7 World Trade Center buildings. 

Raymond Joseph Murray was born April 7, 1973, to Raymond and Margaret Murray in Boonton, New Jersey. Ray started playing hockey at age 7 when his father pushed him onto the ice on skates for the first time. He fell. Coach George Charette picked him and he began to skate. His dad knowing he was in good hands left and so began the Murray hockey life.

Ray played on teams throughout his life. He also refereed and coached youth sports and led one team to win a championship. He was a bruising defender, though that fighting spirit at times sent him to the bench. But he used his time well during these “breaks,” and his non-sporty high school friends lovingly recalled how he left the ice rink to help them build theater sets. Ray was warm and authentic, and a friend to all. 

Ray attended Morristown Beard High School and Avon Old Farms in Connecticut. Ray briefly set out to be a massage therapist, and at another point a poker dealer, but ultimately found his career building skyscrapers.

Ray was fierce and loyal. He brought people together throughout his life, during COVID he started a weekly online poker tournament with friends, workmates and family. He and his dear friend Rob split the pot in last Friday’s game (11/22/24). He treasured his wife Sara and their son Ryan Murray, who was born in 2015. He loved simply being home with his family and going on cruises with the Murray family. 

He was a fighter, a defender and a builder, and we were not ready to let him go. 

In addition to his wife, son and parents, Raymond Joseph Murray is survived by:

His sister Carleen married to Joseph Cranna, and their daughter Mackenzie. 

His brother Peter Murray married to Nicole (Liversidge) and their sons Peter Riely and William and their daughter Samantha.  

His brother-in-law Matthew Wylie and Falgun (Patel) and their son Kiran and daughter Hannah.

His brother-in-law Michael Wylie and Susika (Fai) and their son Jasper and daughter Layla.

His brother-in-law Jacob Wylie and Allison (Israel) and their daughter’s Simone and Kathryn. 

He had a heart-shaped tattoo with the names of his sister’s and brother’s children over his heart and a purple Dr. Suiss fish on his ankle. 

A visitation will take place 3-7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1 at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home at 4 Park Street in Natick. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 2 at St. Theresa of Lisieux Parish, 35 S. Main St., Sherborn, Mass. A burial will follow at Pine Hill Cemetery

For directions and guest book please visit www.everettfuneral.com

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