Paul L. "McGyver" Murray

Paul L. “McGyver” Murray, 84, of Redman Acres Rd., Northumberland, died peacefully at 9:20 am Sunday, October 6th at Emmanuel Nursing Home Hospice Wing. 

He was born October 19, 1939, in Turbotville to the late Edna Force Murray and Harold Murray. He graduated from Northmont High School in Turbotville and resided in Northumberland RD.

He served six years in the National Guard. He was baptized, along with his wife as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on September 2007 by Elder and Sister Hintze of Bountiful, Utah. With God’s help, they touched many lives while facilitating the Addiction Recovery Program for their church.

Paul was multi-talented, he was a bowler, a competitive pinochle player extraordinaire, a boater, and skier. 

For over 35 years, he taught 100’s of kids and grownups to come up on waterskis and loved every minute of doing it. He was wonderful at dancing and loved music of all kinds. Paul was a creative problem solver, designing leaf filters for the old fashion spouting on the little cottage at Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens in Sunbury, amongst many other ingenious projects.

Paul, or Paulie, as he was affectionately called, began his career with Acme Markets as a bagger while still in high school. He worked with the grocery chain for 41 years, spending 27 years as a store supervisor. He ended his working years at age 57 in the Lewisburg store. 

Paul was a “dyed in the wool” New York Mets fan.

Upon retirement, he joined his wife in a beloved endeavor, to protect and rejuvenate Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens, located at the south end of Second Street and Rt 147 in Sunbury. The couple were groundskeepers there. They both had a background in collecting rare and unusual plants. Mr. Keithan began collecting plants from all over the world to beautify the garden in 1929. Lane and Paul Keithan joined the practice and for 28 years the couple worked at trimming and cultivating to rejuvenate each of the old plants. It was Paul’s labor of love. The garden gave back as Paul was rejuvenated as well.

Paul had another devotee’, Tail light, the short haired Persian cat, who won over his heart and also preceded him in death.

Surviving are his wife, Lane Reichenbach Murray with whom he celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 9, 2024; two sisters, Kay and Max Lynn, of Montgomery, Cleo McCormick, of Bloomsburg; six nieces and one nephew, Brenda Aunkst, Lisa Krex, Dennice Zeisloft, Teresa McCormick, Debbie Brooks, Karen Koble and Terry Lynn.

Paul was preceded in death by one nephew, Kyle Lynn and brother-in-law, Jack McCormick.

A Celebration of Paul’s life will be held on his birthday, Saturday October 19th at 11 a.m. in the Roat-Kriner Funeral Home, 1133 Bloom Rd., Danville, with Scott Carper officiating. A time of gathering will be held from 9-11 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Paul’s memory to Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens, c/o City of Sunbury 225 Market St. 

“What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” -Helen Keller