Jack Murdock, 91, passed away peacefully on May 25th in Raleigh, North Carolina. He will be deeply missed by his family, former colleagues, teammates, athletes he coached, and countless friends. 

Jack was born on November 6, 1934, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Jack and Mary Hiner Murdock. Jack graduated in 1953 from Hugh Morrison High School where he excelled in football, baseball and basketball. He then attended and graduated from Wake Forest College, later Wake Forest University, in 1957. Known as a fierce competitor and accurate free-throw shooter, Jack played both baseball and basketball for the school. After college, Jack taught history and coached basketball at Clinton High School and played fastpitch softball with teams out of Winston Salem, NC and Canton, Ohio. He then returned to Wake Forest as an assistant basketball coach for four years and head basketball coach for one.

 Jack married Mary Doug, his wife of 61 years, in 1964, and they returned to Raleigh soon after. Jack then began a career with the North Carolina Department of Transportation serving the state as a Secondary Roads Officer. This work led to his induction in the NC Transportation Services Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jack and Mary Doug built a life centered on family with their son, Jack Connor Murdock, and their niece, Christy Knight. They always enjoyed attending their son’s sporting events and holding hands while watching a good game of any kind on television. 

Jack had many interests and hobbies and lifelong friendships built on laughter. His pastimes involved coaching youth athletics, reading, gardening, bottle digging, playing golf, meeting weekly with friends at Players Retreat, and collecting sports memorabilia at local flea markets. 

He spent his later years enjoying time with his grandchildren, Madeline, Mary Elaine, and Connor and caring for Mary Doug during her illness with Alzheimer’s. 

He supported many local charities and initiatives including the Wake Forest College Birthplace Society, the Wake Forest Historical Museum, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and the Raleigh Bottle Club. He is a member of the NC Sports Hall of Fame, the NC Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame, the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame.

Jack is survived by his son, Jack (Emily); grandchildren, Madeline Murdock Tew (Tyler), Mary Elaine Murdock Farlow (Nick), Connor Murdock; great grandchildren, Mary Claire Tew, Palmer Alan Tew, and Rhodes Odom Farlow; his beloved niece, Christy Knight; his brother-in-law, Tom Harville. 

He now joins his parents, Jack and Mary Hiner, and sister, Marilyn Knight; his wife, Mary Doug; and his sister-in-law, Sarah Harville, in eternal peace. The family would like to thank the staff at Franklin Manor for their faithful care of Jack during his final years with dementia as well as Seniors Helping Seniors, Heartland Hospice, and the nurses and doctors at Wake Med North who cared for Jack during his final days. 

The family would also like to thank Pastor Tyler Williams from Village Church Rolesville for his pastoral care during this difficult time. 

In honor of Jack Murdock’s legacy and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Raleigh Boys Club, 605 N Raleigh Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27610, where his son spent countless hours gaining friends, building athletic skills and learning life lessons through sports.

 Family and friends will gather on Thursday, June 4, from 4:00-6:00pm in Carson Hall at St. James United Methodist Church (3808 St. James Church Road, Raleigh, NC). 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 5, at 1:00 in Carson Hall at St. James United Methodist Church with the Reverend Tyler Williams. 

Interment will immediately follow in Montlawn Memorial Park. 

Please share a memory or condolence for the family at “Jack Murdock’s” guest book below: Montlawn Funeral Home, Cremations & Memorial Park is honored to serve the Murdock family.