James Russell McMurry, born April 10, 1961, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Melborn McMurry.

Survivors include his mother, Maretta White of Tulsa, Oklahoma; his stepmother, Judy McMurry of Guntersville, Alabama; his stepsister, Cynthia Porter (Cody, Cole) of Huntsville, Alabama; and his son and daughter-in-law Colin and Caroline McMurry of Athens, Alabama.

Russ graduated from Mannheim American High School in Mannheim, Germany, in 1979. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Alabama in 1983. He then earned his law degree from the University of Alabama in 1986, where he was selected as a Hugo Black scholar.

Russ then joined the United States Navy and served as a Navy JAG officer engaged primarily in criminal trial practice. He subsequently worked as a procurement and fiscal law attorney for the United States Army in Huntsville. In 2005, he joined Boeing Defense, Space and Security as a Senior Counsel and retired from Boeing at the age of 53.

Russ had a large, full-of-life personality and was loved by many. He was an avid Alabama football fan and enjoyed traveling the world, water skiing and spending time with the ones he loved.

A memorial service will be held for the family in Guntersville with Pastor Beaul Hunkapiller officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be sent to the American Cancer Society.