Murray K. McComas died peacefully at the age of 88 on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. He was born in Warren, PA on December 3, 1936, to Donald Emory and Edith Knabb McComas and grew up on Central Ave. in Warren. Murray was known to many for his eternal optimism, sly grin, bone-crushing handshakes, and his penchant for loud pants.
After graduating from Warren Area High School in 1954, Murray attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Finance in 1958. While at Penn, he was also initiated into the Phi Phi Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He loved his alma mater and his Fraternity, both of which he would continue to serve for many years to come. He was awarded the Alumni Award of Merit at Penn in 1994. After fulfilling his ROTC commitment with the U.S. Army Transportation Corps, he went to work for Sigma Chi on the International headquarters staff. He continued to serve the Fraternity in various volunteer roles, culminating in him serving a term as the 58thPresident (Grand Consul) of Sigma Chi from 1993-1995.
Murray returned to his hometown of Warren, Pa., in 1962 to begin a job in the advertising department for the Blair Corporation. In 1975 he became vice president of advertising and was elected to the board of directors in 1977. He served as president and CEO from 1987 until his retirement in 1999. He was the first person unrelated to the Blair family selected to serve in those roles. He continued as chairman until 2003 and remained a director until the company was acquired in 2007.
He was a great believer and champion of his community and served in a variety of roles in local organizations and charities including The Community Foundation of Warren County, YMCA, Warren Sports Boosters, The Warren County Blood Bank, The United Way of Warren County, The Torchlight Campaign, and many others. He was a proud member of the Elks Club and the Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Conewango Club where he was a Past President and a member of their bowling league on team NOZ.
He is survived by his wife and sweetheart of 53 years, Marie Oriole McComas who he married on November 13, 1971, at Holy Redeemer Church of Warren. Murray was a wonderful father to Julia (Keith) Marie Paxman and to Donald (Elizabeth) Anthony McComas. He adored his 3 grandchildren, McKenna and Kellen Paxman and Waylon McComas. His children and grandchildren all reside in Warren, VT where Murray used to love to visit. His surviving siblings are Margy McComas Morris of Queensbury, NY, and Jeffrey (Jane) McComas of Salt Lake City, UT. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Murray was preceded in death by his parents, Edith and Don Sr. He was also preceded in death by brothers Donald McComas, Jr. and Andrew McComas, and sisters Charlotte McComas Zook, Patricia McComas Lundahl and Dorothy Drew McComas.
Friends and family will be received at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, PA., on Sunday, May 25, 2025, from 1 to 3 P.M. A private funeral service will be conducted at the convenience of the family, with Rev. Tara Eastman, Pastor and Fr. Philip Oriole, brother-in-law, retired priest, officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Warren, PA. In addition, there will be a memorial service held for the family over the summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Community Foundation of Warren County (310 Second Avenue, Warren, PA. 16365), The Sigma Chi Foundation, or The University of Pennsylvania. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com

Murray was a great guy. Fondly remember him from many YMCA functions. He will be missed. My sympathies are with Marie, Julia, DA and families.
One of the greatest guys I ever met in Warren, Pa. When we were on strike for the teachers, he offered me an office job at Blair. Loved the man . I called him to donate money for Choper the Canine police officer and he gladly did. He loved the basketball program we had in the 70’s here in Warren. And man did we win. We had a party at his cottage up near Akeley . He had a doggie that would fetch a white stone-the exact stone out of the creek. Murray you were wonderful in your choice of wild pants you wore. I loved seeing you in them and bought a couple pair. My students thought I was wild . Thanks for being my friend. I will miss your distinct Murr voice . Nobody could match it. RIP buddy you lived a great life.
Murray was a great man and friend and will be dearly missed. Our sympathies and prayers are with Marie, Julia and D.A. and family. God bless you all and much love!
The greatest Uncle I had! Thanks for the friendship and the mentoring! Thanks for the Akers! Thanks for taking me to Shorty’s! Thanks for encouraging me to rush Sigma Chi at Albion College! Thanks for giving me a job in ’82 painting the old Akers, when I was out of work, and as you tried to bring it out of disrepair. I wasn’t quite the DIYer I am today, so I was no match for the job… but you paid me anyway! Thanks for the fishing expeditions on the Mighty Conewango! Thanks for the cold beer in the refrigerator… and all the hot dogs, hamburgers at our family picnics! God blessed me with an Uncle like you! See you in glory!
Uncle Murray was one of a kind! So much fun since we were little and he was always so happy to see you. The memories from family picnics at Quaker’s Akers are some of the very best of my life. May his memory be eternal.
Our Uncle Murray was THE BEST!!
We had SO many fun holidays when we were younger at 12 Central Avenue & 9 Redwood St!
He would give the craziest but fun gifts——huge boxes of toilet paper with money rolled in SOME of them but they would ALL have to be unrolled to find the money. He took us to Red Barn for our first fast food hamburger. We went to Conneaut Lake Park in the summer where he would give each of us a roll of quarters which was like $100 to a young kid!
I was honored to be a bridesmaid in his & Marie’s wedding & felt very special being asked! All the wonderful parties held at the Acres and my parent’s house on Redwood St. He was the life of the party and ALWAYS made each person he was with feel so special!
My last visit with gim, because we were moving, was on Christmas Eve day. He was so happy to see me and we talked for awhile—-he wanted to know where Patty & Bill, and Don & Edith were, so I told him they were in Heaven. He thought about that for a moment and said “well, that’s a great place to be & I’ll see them all again some day”. I will miss my Uncle Murray every day, but I know I WILL see him again some day ❤️
My Uncle Murray was as much a big brother as a great Uncle. He taught me to drive a stick shift Renault so I could use his car to attend a school dance. He was my link to college campus visits during that phase of life. Once out of college, he remained my favorite go to friend whenever I returned to Warren. I will miss him greatly!
Murray was 12 years older than me, but I had the privilege to know him through Sigma Chi at Penn and through various occasional interactions over the years. His openness, wisdom, selflessness, positive energy and good humor embodied the best essence of Sigma Chi and an example to all.
My condolences to the McComas family! My sister Michelle and I babysat Julia and D.A! My whole Miller family loved Murray and Marie! I will be saying special prayers for Murray and all of you! You all hold a place in my heart!❤️❤️
My condolences to Marie,Julia and DA. I will always remember Murry’s smile. The time I went into his office at Blair to ask him if Julia could babysit for us. He was always so nice to talk with.
I am crushed reading this notice.
I think back with a sad smile at the times spent at “The Oak Room Bar” with Mac, Bob Walker and Alan Blair after bowling, After a Men’s Night Dinner or just a Saturday lunch; the after-work stops at Snuffy’s or a weekend meal at Shorty’s. We had many great times going to the NCAA tournament’s games, Canoe trips down the Tionesta and the Allegheny or just getting together at one of our homes but the best may well have been our Alaskan Fly-Fishing trip together. These memories will never end.
I end this with my very deepest condolences to Marie, Julia and D.A.
Marie. I am so sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace.
As his obituary attests, Murray was something of a Renaissance Man with interests both wide and deep. For awhile, he and Jim Gibson broadcast Warren football games on radio. I covered those games for the newspaper. We would meet before the games at eateries, then rollick our way through the games. Hilarious anecdotes, witty repartee, genuine enjoyment of life. Later in life, our paths diverged but when they did cross, Murray’s grin was always day-brightening. My condolences to his family and friends.
God Bless Murray—a noble human being—always pleasant and fun to be around. A real asset to Warren and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He was my best friend in the early 70s when I came to Warren to work for the New Process and played a role in meeting my future wife, Kathy Ericcson Cashman. Our condolences to Marie and all the McComas clan. Mike Cashman
Marie, so sorry to read of Murray’s death. May he rest in peace as he joins so many of our loved ones.
We have many great memories with Murray. We were so fortunate that my son married into such a special family. We were able to share weddings, births of our grandchildren, baptisms, communions, school sports and special times in VT and St John.
We will miss his sense of humor, his kindness and his crazy pants!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Cherish the memories! Love you! ❤️
Absolutely heartbroken for Marie, D.A., and Julia, as well all of Murray’s extended family.
Murray was one of the few people who truly earned being described as a pillar of the Warren community. He had a grace about him that will be greatly missed, and was a gentlemen in every sense of the word.
When I heard this news, my mind flashed back to Murray, John Hannah, John Koedel, and my father sharing well-earned Manhattan’s on our back deck on warm Friday evenings during the summer Mac would always greet me with an absolute bear-hug of a handshake. It was expected of him—and always delivered with a wry smile that made you feel special.
Deepest condolences. The truly great are always taken too soon. Murray’s passing is proof to that.
Dear Marie
Mark & I are saddened to read of Murray’s death but he was someone who brought a smile to our faces whenever we thought of him or saw him! Mark remembers him from Dartmouth St neighborhood and I from his community involvement and unassuming, gentle manner. May fond family memories stay with you all. from Bedford PA…
My wife and I knew Murray from our Blair days. He was so much fun during the softball tournaments at Betts Park and I played for his team “Murray’s Mudcats”. He always had a smile and friendly handshake. Rest in Peace, Murray.