Murrel Simpson

Murrel Simpson, 90, entered into rest on Thursday, January 27, 2022.

Murrel was born on December 17, 1931, to the late I.B. Simpson and Marie Harris Simpson of Troy, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his brother James Arthur Simpson and sister, Catherine Rountree, of Troy, Alabama.

He attended Troy State University and served honorably during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Navy from 1950-1952 on the USS Piedmont attaining the rank of Seaman E-3. The family is eternally grateful for his service which allowed him to receive the much-needed care during the past year at the VA Spinal Cord Unit in Augusta, Georgia, as well as the equipment needed for his return home.

He was known affectionally as “Buck” to his sisters and his numerous nieces and nephews.

Upon retirement, he and Bettie Jo were active members in the Good Sam’s Club. They were blessed to be able to travel the country in their motor home and were fortunate to have the good health to do so. They spent a lot of their later years camping at Unicoi Springs Camp Resort where they made many lasting friendships.

Murrel demonstrated a fierce love for family and took his role as family patriarch and grandfather seriously. Each summer all the grandchildren had the opportunity to spend a week camping with their grandparents. He would awaken the campground with the smell of bacon and sausage frying. His specialty was fried eggs - cooked to order.

For years this tradition included camping at Lake Eufaula with fishing, playing in the park, and swimming in the lake. He ensured that each rite of passage was complete when the grandchildren got their own rod and reel. Night fishing was always in order. Everybody was welcome to go, and the pontoon was often filled with sons, son in laws and grandchildren. Murrel was known for manning five or six poles at the same time from his captain’s chair and was seldom out fished. The fun was not had without participation in the work aspects of camping. He ran a tight ship. Washing the pontoon, the next morning was mandatory without exception. Many valuable lessons were learned about order, discipline, as well as the necessity of returning things where they belonged. His sense of humor and life lessons will not soon be forgotten.

His memory will forever be treasured by his wonderful wife of sixty-eight years, Bettie Jo Simpson, along with three sisters: Bonnie Fay, Mary Sexton, Brenda and Fred Dumas, 5 children: Philip and Jennifer Simpson, Terry Trussell, Donna and John Gaines, Keith and Cindy Simpson, Faith and Jimmy Collins, seventeen grandchildren, thirty-five great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation with Murrel’s family will be Monday, January 31, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at McCullough Funeral Home with the funeral service immediately following in the chapel. Murrel will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery following the service. For friends and family unable to attend, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.