Dartha Downs McMurray passed away on October 31, 2024 at NMMC Tupelo, MS.
She was born to Emmett Downs and Eloise McElroy Downs, on August 24, 1941 in West Point, MS.
She graduated from West Point High School where she played the bass drum. She married John Edward (Johnny) McMurray with whom she built a wonderful life and made her family, especially her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and a great, great grandchild the center of her very being. Dartha loved shoes, horses, a good cold coke, and people. Her love of shoes became McMurray’s Shoes that they started in 1975 and continued for 25 years on Main Street in Starkville, MS. Following her shoe store business, Dartha was a property manager. She retired in 2017.
She is survived by her children, Dede (Ronnie) Pepper of Starkville, Monica Partsch of Manassas, VA, John McMurray Jr. (Teresa) of Starkville, her grandchildren, Michelle Tehan (Alan), Randle Prisock (Tiffine), Jerry Partsch (May) of Navarre, FL, Rosemary Messenger (Ben) of VA Beach, VA, Mary Kathryn Thompson (Drew) of Gluckstadt, MS, Emily Lovelady (Brandon) and Tori Palm (Zach) all of Starkville. Great grandchildren Hayes Prisock, Paisly Knight (Zane), Brayden and Addison Messenger, Hannah, Hollise, Houston and Drew Tehan, J.R. Lovelady, Landon Russell, Levi and Mary Karson Hart, Cruz Williams, Lincoln Palm, and one great, great grandchild, Blakely Knight. Her Loving sisters, Martha Carlisle of Germantown, TN, and Judy Hildreth, of Amory, MS, her beloved sisters-in-law, Betty McCory of West Point, MS, Jeanette McMurry of Mathiston, MS, Jewell Cartwright of Tupelo, MS, and Jean McMurray of Columbus, MS, and a host of nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents, Emmett Downs and Eloise Rosemond, her husband of 61 years, John McMurray and Brothers-in-law, Fred and David McMurray of Starkville, and Tommy Hildreth of Amory, MS, and Donnie Carlisle of Germantown, TN.
Visitation will be held at Welch Funeral Home on Saturday, November 9th, 10:00am – 12:00pm.
“Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society.”
