Died: January 2, 2020

Paul Edgar Murray would have turned 100 on April 21, 2021, and all bets have been that he would have reached this milestone had he not contracted a short sickness in December 2019. He died together with his daughters by his aspect in Phoenix , AZ on January 2, 2020.

Paul has lived a protracted life full of dedication elevating a household of six daughters whereas realizing his ardour for gross sales that consumed his life for 98 years and eight months. Paul was born on the south aspect of Chicago to Hattie and Paul Murray. He was the youngest of 5 youngsters and the one baby. He started his gross sales profession throughout the Melancholy as a younger boy promoting greens within the alley he purchased for 25 cents a bushel to be able to spend cash on going to the flicks, which value 10 cents. As he received older, Paul had a paper itinerary that included delivering the newspaper to Al Capone’s mom. He typically laughed at her with out ever giving her a tip, even at Christmas.

Paul’s father had graduated with {an electrical} engineering diploma from Penn State in 1905. In consequence, he anticipated his solely son to be very severe about his research. In truth, he requested Paul to learn the whole Encyclopedia Britannica. It was the start of a love of studying for Paul. He notably loved the biographies of profitable businessmen and browse a whole bunch, if not 1000’s, of them through the years. When Paul developed macular degeneration in his later years, he spent hours listening to books on tape day by day.

Paul met his spouse, Lorraine, in highschool throughout a basketball recreation. He mentioned he thought Lorraine was “fairly cute”. They received married quickly after highschool. Throughout the first years of marriage, Paul led a workforce of girls constructing engines at a B-52 bomber manufacturing unit in Chicago, as he was rejected by the navy as a result of his bronchial asthma as a toddler. They began their household throughout this time with their first daughter. They finally had 5 extra daughters over a 20-year interval (and keep in mind Paul had 4 sisters and no brothers!).

After the conflict, Paul was employed as a salesman for The Proctor & Gamble Firm (P&G) within the packaged cleaning soap division. Its territory was central Illinois. In consequence, Paul and Lorraine moved their household from Chicago to Ottawa, Tonica, Wenona (22) and eventually Lake Wildwood to Varna (33). Paul managed the Central Illinois Territory for 37 years till his retirement. Each grocer, large and small, knew Paul and regarded him his good friend. He cared as a lot about rising their enterprise with artistic promoting concepts as he was about assembly his gross sales quotas. When Paul retired, he obtained an award for accepting extra artistic concepts into his profession than some other salesperson in P&G historical past. In honor of Paul’s accomplishments, all future P&G Inventive Promoting Awards have been known as “Murray-isms”.

After Paul retired he could not cease promoting, so he began “Paul’s Mall” in Varna, then moved to Lacon. Paul’s Mall was identified to have the biggest assortment of “low and low priced” trinkets and oddities than some other retailer within the space. In truth, individuals got here for miles round to buy at Paul’s Mall. Paul ran this enterprise for 30 years and retired, once more, within the late Eighties. Paul continued to promote his distinctive knick-knacks at native festivals and, even, at his assisted residing facility in Phoenix the place he moved to be nearer to one in all his daughters.

Paul was dedicated to contributing to his neighborhood, whether or not that was by volunteering his time on the PTA and Lutheran Church Board of Administrators, the Lake Wildwood Fishing Committee, or donating objects for fundraising. He was captivated with his spiritual beliefs and politics and did not hesitate to share his opinions whether or not you want them or not. One factor you probably did know is that Paul’s positions have been typically effectively thought out, so it was exhausting to win an argument with him. He was extraordinarily good from years of studying and staying on prime of the day’s occasions. Good luck making an attempt to beat him by performing math equations and not using a calculator. His thoughts was sharp as a bug till the day he died.

Paul was predeceased by his 72-year-old spouse, Lorraine, and daughter, Paulette.

Paul’s surviving daughters are Michelle Murphy, of Peoria Heights; Suzanne Murray, of Varna; Nancy Murray, of Peoria; Jennifer Murray (son-in-law, Marc Dobiecki), of Atlanta, GA; Kelly Murray, of Phoenix, Arizona; and two grandsons.