A lot of you knew him better than I did, but it's always a tough loss. Here's the obituary his cousin posted to FB:
Rocky Mount, NC, native, Kenneth (Ken) Murchison, died on June 28, 2026, at the age of 77. He was a graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School, broadcasting school in Georgia, and North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Ken is preceded in death by his wife, Marsha Lee Edwards Murchison; his parents, Leroy Caswell Murchison and Amy Lorene (Rene) Barnes Murchison; a brother, John Lawrence (Larry) Murchison; maternal grandparents, Needie Clarence Barnes and Amy Louise Stancil Barnes; paternal grandparents, Lester Lynn Murchison and Ruth Ellis Murchison; beloved aunt and uncle, Betty and Don Cavanaugh; a first cousin, Deborah Lynn Cavanaugh Blades; many members of the Murchison clan; Charlie Brown, his Beagle dog.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are his daughter, Marianne ‘Faithful’ Murchison; Marianne’s partner of 20 years, Kenneth (Kent) Lee Hunt; his grandson, Charles David Lowman (Hoot); his special granddaughter, Payton Danielle Hunt; and me, his first-cousin, Janet Leigh Cavanaugh Graham.
In his early years, Ken was employed as a disc jockey in Henderson, NC. It is here that he met his wife, subsequently had his daughter, and connected with his life-long best friends. Later, he returned ‘home’ to work at the Evening Telegram and the Spring Hope Enterprise. Many will remember his love for the Rocky Mount Blackbirds and drama in high school, and possibly remember him reporting at every sports event in Spring Hope. He also wrote a weekly human interest article in the late ’80’s and early 90’s. One title stands out, “Hard Heads Run In His Family”. In that article, Ken describes his daughter Marianne as ‘sweet and beautiful’ and as his ‘pride and joy, who could be the most stubborn person I have ever known’. It does take one to know one.
And many would agree. To quote a friend: ‘Ken had a brilliant mind and a wicked wit’. Many, including me, would aptly describe him as a ‘cumugeon’, and he did have strong opinions on most everything and did not wait to be invited to share them. He was an avid reader from early Mad Magazine to historical sagas and espionage, liked old movies and late-night talk shows, the Tarheels and the Carolina Hurricanes, and everything concerning The Beatles! I was christened into good rock music at a very young age when Ken gave Lynn and me the demo vinyl 45’s from his AM radio DJ days.
Ken was proud of his Scottish heritage and his genealogy, and always dreamed of traveling to see his ancestral home. He loved southern foods (who doesn’t?): his grandmama Dear’s fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits and his Aunt Iris’ chocolate cake. On Facebook, he would describe himself as a ‘happy boy’ when he could eat a hot dog all the way at Central Cafe, the buffet at Gardner’s, or breakfast for lunch at the Cracker Barrel.
Ken was sentimental and loved his family deeply. We enjoyed reminiscing and sharing stories of our childhood days on the Pamlico River. He liked Camaros, antiques, roosters (you read that right), dogs, babies, and children, Crepe Myrtles, and to ‘taste up his mouth’ with an ice-cold Coke or Sundrop. He loved the daytime and evening sky, often quoting his paternal grandfather, who told him to ‘always watch the sky; it is full of beauty and wonder’.
When nearing the end of his life, Ken would often say that he had the best friends anyone could ask for, who were always there for him. For some reason, they nick-named him ‘Killa’, but I know for a fact that wasn’t literal.
Ken had a full life of adventures, some of which I don’t dare share here.
As I write this, I can easily imagine Ken’s joy, signature laugh, and hugs when he is once again reunited with his family, especially his brother, Larry, and his cousin-like-a-sister, Lynn, on a beautiful distant shore under a blue canopy of sky.
After Ken’s cremation at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home of Rocky Mount, his ashes will rest in an urn depicting a lighthouse, seagulls, white clouds, and ocean waves. His daughter, Marianne, chose it for him and said, ‘I think he’d like it’. I agree.
Rest now, Cuz.
Rocky Mount, NC, native, Kenneth (Ken) Murchison, died on June 28, 2026, at the age of 77. He was a graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School, broadcasting school in Georgia, and North Carolina Wesleyan University.
Ken is preceded in death by his wife, Marsha Lee Edwards Murchison; his parents, Leroy Caswell Murchison and Amy Lorene (Rene) Barnes Murchison; a brother, John Lawrence (Larry) Murchison; maternal grandparents, Needie Clarence Barnes and Amy Louise Stancil Barnes; paternal grandparents, Lester Lynn Murchison and Ruth Ellis Murchison; beloved aunt and uncle, Betty and Don Cavanaugh; a first cousin, Deborah Lynn Cavanaugh Blades; many members of the Murchison clan; Charlie Brown, his Beagle dog.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are his daughter, Marianne ‘Faithful’ Murchison; Marianne’s partner of 20 years, Kenneth (Kent) Lee Hunt; his grandson, Charles David Lowman (Hoot); his special granddaughter, Payton Danielle Hunt; and me, his first-cousin, Janet Leigh Cavanaugh Graham.
In his early years, Ken was employed as a disc jockey in Henderson, NC. It is here that he met his wife, subsequently had his daughter, and connected with his life-long best friends. Later, he returned ‘home’ to work at the Evening Telegram and the Spring Hope Enterprise. Many will remember his love for the Rocky Mount Blackbirds and drama in high school, and possibly remember him reporting at every sports event in Spring Hope. He also wrote a weekly human interest article in the late ’80’s and early 90’s. One title stands out, “Hard Heads Run In His Family”. In that article, Ken describes his daughter Marianne as ‘sweet and beautiful’ and as his ‘pride and joy, who could be the most stubborn person I have ever known’. It does take one to know one.
And many would agree. To quote a friend: ‘Ken had a brilliant mind and a wicked wit’. Many, including me, would aptly describe him as a ‘cumugeon’, and he did have strong opinions on most everything and did not wait to be invited to share them. He was an avid reader from early Mad Magazine to historical sagas and espionage, liked old movies and late-night talk shows, the Tarheels and the Carolina Hurricanes, and everything concerning The Beatles! I was christened into good rock music at a very young age when Ken gave Lynn and me the demo vinyl 45’s from his AM radio DJ days.
Ken was proud of his Scottish heritage and his genealogy, and always dreamed of traveling to see his ancestral home. He loved southern foods (who doesn’t?): his grandmama Dear’s fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits and his Aunt Iris’ chocolate cake. On Facebook, he would describe himself as a ‘happy boy’ when he could eat a hot dog all the way at Central Cafe, the buffet at Gardner’s, or breakfast for lunch at the Cracker Barrel.
Ken was sentimental and loved his family deeply. We enjoyed reminiscing and sharing stories of our childhood days on the Pamlico River. He liked Camaros, antiques, roosters (you read that right), dogs, babies, and children, Crepe Myrtles, and to ‘taste up his mouth’ with an ice-cold Coke or Sundrop. He loved the daytime and evening sky, often quoting his paternal grandfather, who told him to ‘always watch the sky; it is full of beauty and wonder’.
When nearing the end of his life, Ken would often say that he had the best friends anyone could ask for, who were always there for him. For some reason, they nick-named him ‘Killa’, but I know for a fact that wasn’t literal.
Ken had a full life of adventures, some of which I don’t dare share here.
As I write this, I can easily imagine Ken’s joy, signature laugh, and hugs when he is once again reunited with his family, especially his brother, Larry, and his cousin-like-a-sister, Lynn, on a beautiful distant shore under a blue canopy of sky.
After Ken’s cremation at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home of Rocky Mount, his ashes will rest in an urn depicting a lighthouse, seagulls, white clouds, and ocean waves. His daughter, Marianne, chose it for him and said, ‘I think he’d like it’. I agree.
Rest now, Cuz.
