J. Donald Murrell

J. Donald Murrell, of Warner Robins, Georgia, passed away unexpectedly the night of Monday, January 13, 2025, in his sleep. He was 83 years of age. 

Donald’s happiest memories were as a boy on his families’ farm in Potawatomi County, Oklahoma. Their farm was located out in Potawatomi County, between Shawnee and Tecumseh, Oklahoma, about 28 miles from Oklahoma City. The Northern Canadian River bordered their land. He used to walk home from over the North Canadian River bridge to get back home. Donald did not believe in wasting time. He always had a project in mind and accomplished a lot in his lifetime. He worked hard from the time he was 10 or 12 years of age in many different occupations. 

He trained in many different fields including pharmacist, pilot, chef, and as an Emergency Technician. He was also a DJ, which is where he picked up the initial “J” in his name. He retired from the Army and continued serving the Department of Defense at Robins Air Force Base as a Weapons Project Manager for many years, until his retirement. He did a lot of overseas traveling during his Military and Civil Service.

His second most happy memories were of his time of friendship and service in the Country Music field. He was close friends with a lot of our well-known Country Music Artists. He talked very often about his friendship with Conway Twitty, who was a neighbor of his in Oklahoma. He had hoped to close out all his business here in Georgia and retire to Tennessee near many of his friends. He was also friends with T Graham Brown, George Jones, Mel Tillis, Ronnie McDowell, Conway Twitty, and the great songwriter, Wayne Kemp. He missed his friends very much. He was allowed to help and to even travel with them on some of their bus tours. He even had the privilege of doing some back up singing and was continuously writing songs or thinking of another idea for a song. He greatly admired all his country music friends and missed being with them and working with them.

Donald had a very soft heart and was always helping someone in need. Many times though, he was taken advantage of because of his kindness and trust in untrustworthy strangers. Those of us who knew and loved him, feel very privileged to have known him and been a part of his life. One of Don’s favorite songs was “I Had a Talk with the Man Upstairs Last Night” by Wayne Kemp; he spoke of it often.

Don also leaves behind his right-hand man, Greg, dear friends George and Wayne, who were always there for him through many trials. His newest friends, Belinda P. and Diane H. spent time with him, loved him, and did their best to serve him in his last moments. 

The majority of Don’s family are deceased. His parents, Ethel Florene Couch Murrell & Orville Murrell from Oklahoma. Don’s mother is buried at Tecumseh Cemetery, Oklahoma; Don’s daughter, Donita Lacritia Murrell Loman from Oklahoma; Don’s grandparents on his mother’s side, Emma Jane Cantrell Couch & John Couch. His Grandmother, Emma Jane was a full-blooded Potawatomi Indian in Oklahoma. He was told that his Great Granddad was a Potawatomi Chief. He was shown the Indian adobe house where his grandmother lived as a child. 

Donald had one granddaughter and two great grandchildren still living: Melody Ada Loman Burgin (Chris) of Oklahoma, along with Don’s great-grandchildren, Donna Shyanne Burgin, and Christopher Burgin, Jr.

Don will be greatly missed by all those friends who loved and tried to serve him in his last days.

His most favorite goodbye to those he loved was “God Bless Your Heart”! So, to Donald Murrell, we all say, “God Bless Your Heart”!

A service to celebrate Donald’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. Later, Donald will be laid to rest in Tecumseh Cemetery in Oklahoma next to his mother. 

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.