Obituary for Murl Frank "Big John" McCord
Murl Frank "Big John" McCord passed away April 21, 2019 with his family by his side. He was born August 1, 1946 in Little Rock to Robert M. and Lorine McKenzie McCord, the 7th of their 8 sons. Mr. McCord was a graduate of Paris high school, Class of 1964 where he was the manager of the football team. Johnny, as he was affectionately known to his family and friends, married Martha Smith on July 3, 1975, after meeting just four months prior. At the ceremony he presented Martha's three daughters from previous marriages with rings as well and loved them all as his own. Nineteen months later they welcomed another daughter to the family.
After high school he worked at the Lexington-Bluegrass Army Depot in Avon, and then Hansley Mills until the factory closed. Facing uncertainty of supporting his family, he enrolled at Kentucky Tech Vocation School through the NAFTA program. At nights he worked for the school as a janitor. After graduation in 1989 he was hired by the school as the shipping and receiving clerk where he oversaw the supplies and equipment for each area technology school in the region. Over the years he saw many changes, one of which was the name, now known as Bluegrass Community & Technical College. Murl retired in 2009 after 20 years of dedicated service.
Johnny was an avid card player and member of the Paris City Club for some forty years. He enjoyed watching sports of all kinds and like most Kentuckians anticipated the Kentucky Derby.
Johnny is survived by his wife Martha; their daughters, Angela (James) Arvin, Bessie Davis Pfeifer, Cathy (Donnie) Payton, Deanna (David) Birney; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and his brothers, Larry, William (Teresa) and Sammy (Norma). He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Bobby, Lon, Marvin, Gayle, and his baby sister who perished in a fire at fifteen months, Neva June.
Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 26, at Hinton-Turner Funeral Home with a private service later.
Pallbearers will be James Arvin, Donnie Payton, David Birney, William Arvin, Stephen Arvin and Bobby McCord, Jr.
After high school he worked at the Lexington-Bluegrass Army Depot in Avon, and then Hansley Mills until the factory closed. Facing uncertainty of supporting his family, he enrolled at Kentucky Tech Vocation School through the NAFTA program. At nights he worked for the school as a janitor. After graduation in 1989 he was hired by the school as the shipping and receiving clerk where he oversaw the supplies and equipment for each area technology school in the region. Over the years he saw many changes, one of which was the name, now known as Bluegrass Community & Technical College. Murl retired in 2009 after 20 years of dedicated service.
Johnny was an avid card player and member of the Paris City Club for some forty years. He enjoyed watching sports of all kinds and like most Kentuckians anticipated the Kentucky Derby.
Johnny is survived by his wife Martha; their daughters, Angela (James) Arvin, Bessie Davis Pfeifer, Cathy (Donnie) Payton, Deanna (David) Birney; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and his brothers, Larry, William (Teresa) and Sammy (Norma). He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Bobby, Lon, Marvin, Gayle, and his baby sister who perished in a fire at fifteen months, Neva June.
Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 26, at Hinton-Turner Funeral Home with a private service later.
Pallbearers will be James Arvin, Donnie Payton, David Birney, William Arvin, Stephen Arvin and Bobby McCord, Jr.