FRANKLIN
Emma Gene “Gene” (Lucas) McMurray, 90, of Franklin, Indiana passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from natural causes.
Emma Gene Lucas was born on March 1, 1933 in Crothersville, Indiana, to Roy and Mable. Known as Gene throughout most of her life, she was a natural born caregiver and had a joyful laugh you could hear from across the house. Gene spent more than 30 years as a nurse and retired as the Director of Nursing at the Indiana Masonic Home. She was often the one friends and family called to accompany them to doctors’ appointments and quickly offered to care for any of her grandchildren when they weren’t feeling well. She loved babies, and they loved her.
Gene and her husband of 54 years, Nolan Dean ‘Mac’ McMurray were completely devoted to each other. Their home served as the hub for family gatherings, and it became the rallying point on Indy 500 Race Weekend for friends and family. They kept an impressive garden in the backyard that provided fresh fruit and vegetables in the summer and the rest that Gene canned to eat throughout the rest of the year. Gene and Mac loved taking road trips to explore this great country. Some of their most memorable trips include driving to Cape Canaveral to watch the Apollo 11 launch in 1969, driving the entire Oregon Trail and driving to the Grand Canyon in the 1990s.
Gene loved her family, taking her grandkids shopping for school clothes, playing Rummikub, family genealogy, reading, traveling, and listening to Neil Diamond. She was the best grandma and had such a meaningful impact on so many people. She was the family matriarch and will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her children Tom (Tina Petro) McMurray, Susan (John Slifko) Sexton, Steve (Maew) McMurray; seven grandchildren, TJ (Courtney) McMurray, Anna (Tyler Boeing) Sexton, Shannon (Jason) Sims, Ben (Leslie) McMurray, Sara Sexton, Alex McMurray, and Siwapol Andy McMurray; and seven great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Sunday September 17th from 1-3 p.m. with memorial service following at 3 p.m. at Flinn & Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St, Franklin, IN. A private graveside service will take place on Monday September 18th.
