Murrell Ewing is now singing with the Angels

[Blubayou]

Another Soldier Gone Home! He had an amazing voice, but more amazing was his spirit. I will miss him.

[Apprehended]

In 1961 he and Joan were the associate pastors in Alexandria. I was in the Air Force stationed at England AFB only five miles away, living in the single airmen's quarters. I owned a 1959 convertivle Jaguar XKE. He loved that car. He wanted me to take him out to the base to see where I lived. It had put the top up since it had rained earlier. Before he got in the car, he wanted me to put the top down since it was no longer raining. I did. I could tell he was really enjoying this ride.

In those days, I was a speed demon. From North Circle on highway 1 going toward the base, I pulled out of the line of traffic to pass some traffic ahead of me. The on-coming traffic was closing in on us very quickly. It look kind of periously there for a few moments. He stood up on the floor board holding on to the windshield and hollered, "You better hunt for a hole!!!!" I found a hole just in time but it looked like I was about to lose a young fat preacher for a few seconds. Strangely, he never asked me to take him for a ride after than.

Loved Brother Murrell. I'll never forgive him for stealing my alphabet blocks off my little first grade desk. He had stolen everyone's too...not just mine.

[notofworks]

From the time that I remember being in his home as a small child, seeing this larger-than-life figure sitting in his rocking chair, I have greatly admired Murrell Ewing, mostly from a distance.

Now that I know the energy it takes to preach a sermon, I have no idea how he could sing for 45-60 minutes, and then preach for two hours. I know that sounds crazy to think of sitting and listening to a person that long, but I'll have to admit it never quite seemed that long.

When I was in bible school, he came to CLC once and opened his sermon with a story. Basically, the story was this....he was sitting on his porch one day and saw a squirrel run across the road and get hit by a car. But it took him 30 minutes to tell it and when he was finished we were all sobbing.

"If I could have just spoken squirrel language I could have called out to him and saved his life! But tonight, I'm not talking to a bunch of squirrels.....". Good grief, I think we cried our eyeballs out.

Years later, he came to our church and we were all joking about how much we were gonna cry, especially if he told the story behind the song, "Take Me Home Last."

So I walked into the church with gobs of Kleenex hanging out of my pockets. We all laughed and continued to joke about it. But sure enough, we ended up with tears pouring down our faces and used all the Kleenex.

There are many great singers and preachers but few could stir emotions like Murrell Ewing could. I just got home and saw the news on Facebook and suddenly wanted to hear him just one more time.

Rest in peace, Bro. Ewing. I'm one of the thousands who thought you were amazing.

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by notofworks

From the time that I remember being in his home as a small child, seeing this larger-than-life figure sitting in his rocking chair, I have greatly admired Murrell Ewing, mostly from a distance.

Now that I know the energy it takes to preach a sermon, I have no idea how he could sing for 45-60 minutes, and then preach for two hours. I know that sounds crazy to think of sitting and listening to a person that long, but I'll have to admit it never quite seemed that long.

When I was in bible school, he came to CLC once and opened his sermon with a story. Basically, the story was this....he was sitting on his porch one day and saw a squirrel run across the road and get hit by a car. But it took him 30 minutes to tell it and when he was finished we were all sobbing.

"If I could have just spoken squirrel language I could have called out to him and saved his life! But tonight, I'm not talking to a bunch of squirrels.....". Good grief, I think we cried our eyeballs out.

Years later, he came to our church and we were all joking about how much we were gonna cry, especially if he told the story behind the song, "Take Me Home Now."

So I walked into the church with gobs of Kleenex hanging out of my pockets. We all laughed and continued to joke about it. But sure enough, we ended up with tears pouring down our faces and used all the Kleenex.

There are many great singers and preachers but few could stir emotions like Murrell Ewing could. I just got home and saw the news on Facebook and suddenly wanted to hear him just one more time.

Rest in peace, Bro. Ewing. I'm one of the thousands who thought you were amazing.

Great Eulogy NotofWorks! One correction, the song was "Take Me Home Last!" about a little boy who found something at Sunday School and he wanted to stay on the bus as long as he could, thus his request, "Take Me Home Last!"

The sermon "Saturday's Hero" was taken from a Norman Rockwell painting. Murrell Ewing was truly a "Christian Artist!" When he sang for the Gaither's Homecoming video he had all the old pros on their feet as he concluded, "He Saw Me!" That should be the title of his funeral sermon, "He Saw Me!"

Rest in peace Murrell Ewing and it was an honor to have you as a true friend!

Been Thinkin

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

Great Eulogy NotofWorks! One correction, the song was "Take Me Home Last!" about a little boy who found something at Sunday School and he wanted to stay on the bus as long as he could, thus his request, "Take Me Home Last!"

The sermon "Saturday's Hero" was taken from a Norman Rockwell painting. Murrell Ewing was truly a "Christian Artist!" When he sang for the Gaither's Homecoming video he had all the old pros on their feet as he concluded, "He Saw Me!" That should be the title of his funeral sermon, "He Saw Me!"

Rest in peace Murrell Ewing and it was an honor to have you as a true friend!

Been Thinkin

I'm sorry, that's what I meant. I corrected it.

The first time I saw "He Saw Me", I did exactly what he always made me do. I sobbed. When he sang, "He must become like me"......wow. Incredible.

[Blubayou]

How old was Br. Ewing?

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by Blubayou

How old was Br. Ewing?

I believe someone said he was born in 1941, thus 69.

I did look at the churches web site and it listed Murrell's birthdate in this manner. 1941 — 2010 so that would make him 69 I guess. Someone asked how he died, the word I got was that he lay down for a nap and didn't wake up. Good way to go!

BT

[Esther]

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

I believe someone said he was born in 1941, thus 69.

I did look at the churches web site and it listed Murrell's birthdate in this manner. 1941 — 2010 so that would make him 69 I guess. Someone asked how he died, the word I got was that he lay down for a nap and didn't wake up. Good way to go!

BT

That is the same information I received about 30 minutes ago. I was late getting the information.

He was one of my favorites. Being from La. we were spoiled to some of the very best.

This year we on earth have lost a lot of giants and heaven has gained a lot.

[DAII]

Originally Posted by timlan2057

Well, what can I say?

He was my pastor during my growing up years, and a tremendous influence on my young life.

Even before I left the pentecostal church and ministry, Marvin Treece became more of an influence on me as far as a mentor--his approach to ministry was much more scholarly and I felt more of an affinity with him.

His death does bring back a lot of memories.

In my later years, of course, I could not relate to him in a lot of ways, but I'll share a memory that has nothing to do with his singing or music.

I was a young minister-- an "up and comer" as T.F.Tenney said.

Around 1981, there was a bit of turmoil in my life, ministry and marriage.

I'm like former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards: he said: "I'm closer to the tomb than I am to the womb, and I'm only interested in the truth."

I'm far past worrying about making impressions or caring what people think--especially about my former life as a pentecostal preacher.

The bottom line was: I had a now-ex wife who felt it necessary to trumpet and make into a crisis every disagreement that we had until--at her insistence--we had to get "counseling" from Tenney.

Word began to get around--wonderful for a full-time evangelist.

I walked into my home church and Brother Murrell met me at the door. He'd heard about the situation.

"Tell me what's going on," he said. "I need some ammunition if I have to go to talk to the District Board. You're mine and I'm going to fight for you."

He didn't ask me particulars. He was unconditionally on my side.

He would have been a very powerful and willing weapon had I chose to use him, but there were many other situations besides my marriage that dictated there was nothing to do but walk away. I have no regrets.

We called him "Brother Murrell" because until 1981, his dad was "Brother Ewing."

Anyway, that's my memory.

Thanks Brother Murrell. I could not accept every single one of the tenets and treatises you stood for--but your love and support was unconditional.

Farewell and godspeed.

This tells me a lot about the character of the man ... thanks for sharing this memory.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by DAII

This tells me a lot about the character of the man ... thanks for sharing this memory.

It sure does, thankfully some of us were blessed enough to know more men like him. Maybe it was the time, the generation that made them them that way.