Murray Michael McCrary, age 86, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026, at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, with his son, Michael, and his devoted caregiver and dear friend, Boyd, by his side.
Murray was born on September 23, 1939, in California, Missouri, to Murray J McCrary and Nellie DeHaven McCrary. When he was of school age, the family moved to Weatherby, Missouri. He graduated from Maysville High School in Maysville, Missouri, before pursuing higher education and a distinguished career in engineering and construction.
Murray was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Arlene L. McCrary, who passed away on November 6, 2024. Their 65-year marriage was marked by love, mutual support, adventure, and devotion to family.
During high school, Murray met Arlene, who would become his lifelong partner. In the fall of 1958, Arlene began her studies at the University of Missouri in Warrensburg while Murray continued his education at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla, Missouri.
During Thanksgiving of 1959, the couple decided to marry and were united in marriage on January 2, 1960, in Polo, Missouri.
After their marriage, Arlene moved to Rolla, where she worked in the registrar’s office at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy while Murray continued his engineering studies.
During this time, they welcomed their only child, a son, Michael.
Murray earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, now Missouri University of Science and Technology, on May 27, 1962. Following graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and entered active military service.
His first assignment took him to the Etain and Verdun region of France. After extending his overseas assignment, Murray was able to have his family join him in Europe. Arlene and young Michael crossed the Atlantic aboard the USS Rose, a converted World War II troop ship. The family first lived in Metz, France, before moving into government housing near Etain. After two years in France, Murray’s unit transferred to Karlsruhe, Germany, where he extended his service for an additional two years. The family’s years in Europe became a treasured chapter in their lives and created memories that endured for decades.
Following his military service, Murray began his civilian engineering career with Hensel Phelps Construction Company in Greeley, Colorado. He later accepted a transfer to California, where he helped support the company’s first expansion outside Colorado with the establishment of its Burlingame branch. In 1969, Murray and Arlene purchased their first home in Foster City, beginning a long and successful chapter of their lives in California.
In 1973, Murray left Hensel Phelps to establish McCrary Construction Company. Through hard work, vision, and determination, he built a successful construction business and earned the respect of clients, colleagues, and friends throughout the industry. During this period, he also participated in the early development of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Murray and Arlene shared an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoyed success in a variety of business ventures throughout their lives. Their partnership in both marriage and business reflected their dedication, perseverance, and shared goals.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Murray was a proud Mason and had a lifelong passion for flying and automobiles. Over the years, he owned several Cessna airplanes and embraced the adventure that aviation offered. He survived one plane crash that was not his fault and skillfully executed an emergency landing following a catastrophic engine failure during takeoff. His love of cars reflected his curiosity and appreciation for craftsmanship, leading him to own and enjoy a variety of collector, sports, and luxury automobiles. Murray and his son, Michael, spent many weekends working together on a 1964 Studebaker Avanti, a labor of love made even more memorable by the constant challenge of finding replacement parts. Whether working on cars, flying airplanes, traveling, building businesses, serving his country, or pursuing new opportunities, Murray embraced life’s challenges with confidence, determination, and enthusiasm.
He is survived by his son, Michael McCrary; his grandsons, Marcus and Matthew; his brothers, James and John; his sisters, Sheila and Sharon; and many extended family members and friends. In addition to his wife, Arlene, he was preceded in death by his parents, Murray J McCrary and Nellie DeHaven McCrary, his brother Phillip J, and his sister, Marla Mae.
Murray, affectionately known to family as “Sonny,” will be remembered for his intelligence, integrity, entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to family, and quiet strength. Whether serving his country, building a successful business, taking to the skies, or caring for those he loved, he approached life with commitment and purpose. Though his passing leaves a profound loss for family and friends, his legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the family he cherished, and the example he set. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.
Family and friends are invited to attend an interment service at Graceland Cemetery in Cameron, Missouri, on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
