James Murray Henry Jr.
James Murray Henry Jr. passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 2, 2013, surrounded by his family in Sarasota, Fla. Born in 1925 and raised in Oklahoma City, he was the son of James Murray Henry Sr. and Edith B. Henry. His wife of 25 years, Margo Marland Henry; his sister, Ester Ann Moon; his brother, John Stephen Henry; and his son-in-law, Vincent D. Mulroy, preceded him in death.
Upon graduating from Classen High School in 1943, Murray served in the 10th Armored Division of General George S. Patton’s 3rd Army, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and across Europe. After the war, he attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was an enthusiastic member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He graduated in 1950 with a B.S. in mathematics. Later that year, Murray was again called into military service. He spent two years in Korea and Japan as a member of the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps. He joined the U.S. Army Reserves in Army Intelligence in 1952 and was honorably discharged as a captain in 1962.
Murray worked from 1952 to 1967 at Texas Instruments in Dallas as a senior engineer of manufacturing and the director of marketing of the space program. The next 20 years were spent in Dallas, working as an independent business broker in the energy field. In 1987, Murray moved to Boston, where he became the founder and managing director of the Octagon Company, a mergers and acquisitions firm. Semi-retired, he moved in 2004 to Sarasota, Fla., where he continued working as a business broker until his death.
While living in Dallas, Murray participated in many civic organizations, such as the Highland Park Community League and the DART Board. He was also a member of the Dallas Country Club.
Marilyn Nordby of Sarasota, Fla.; daughters Ann Mulroy of Kentfield, Calif., and Meg Henry of Fort Worth; grandchildren John Murray Mulroy and Caroline Wilkinson Mulroy of Kentfield, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews survive him.
As a friend, father, grandfather, and partner, Murray had a unique way of making every day a celebration and the mundane an adventure. With a twinkle in his eye and a boisterous laugh, he had an optimistic view of this world that was comforting and contagious. We will miss his encouragement, his counsel, and his whistle.
There will be memorial celebrations in Sarasota and Dallas in the coming months. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to The Sarasota Ballet, 5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243.
