Michael E. Murray, an ordained deacon, died March 17 in his Taunton home from esophageal cancer. He was 60.
Mr. Murray was born in Milford and grew up in Milford and Taunton. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Daniel Cronin of Fall River in 1987.
Mr. Murray served at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Taunton and most recently at St. Mary's Parish in Norton, where he served for almost 10 years. He also served as chaplain to the Taunton and Dighton police departments and the West River Hospice.
Mr. Murray received a master's degree in pastoral counseling from Boston College in 1992. He Murray worked with Red Cross in disaster relief services, coordinating and providing counseling and prayer and memorial services most notably to those in need after the Sept. 11 attacks and The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island.
"It was not just public service for him, but an act of faith," said his son, the Rev. John Murray of South Yarmouth. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, Mr. Murray continued to provide counseling services.
In addition to his son, Mr. Murray leaves his wife, Carol A. (Saba) of Taunton; his parents, Henry and Margaret (Nolan) of Taunton; three daughters, Tara Gonsalves of Berkley, Shannon Doel and Beth Murray, both of Taunton; two brothers, Robert of North Dighton and Peter of Fort Bragg, N.C.; a sister, Margaret of Easton; and three grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be said Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Ann's Church in Raynham. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery in Taunton.
