Murray Michael Czeczotka

On December 8, 2023, Murray M Czeczotka celebrated his birthday recalling “A Wonderful Life” of his 93 years. Thirty days later, on January 8, 2024 he departed for his heavenly home.
This wonderful life began at his birth on December 8, 1930 to parents, Victor and Anna Stacia Czeczotka, both Polish immigrants from Eastern Europe. He grew up in Griswold, Connecticut and knew farming well. In 1952 he joined the Air Force and was stationed at Perrin Air Force Base in Sherman, Texas. He met his future wife, Dorothea from Denison, Texas and he vocally claimed his intention to marry her, before she knew this, which has been one of his favorite stories. Dorothea’s sentiment was only to marry a man of Christian faith. Murray determined to learn more about the church, surrendered his life in baptism in Jesus Christ while Dorothea was on a trip. He married Dorothea Rae Trim in 1955 and then began his aviation career at Bell Helicopter in Hurst, Texas as an air traffic controller. He loved his career at Bell. In musical talent he played the accordion, ukulele and piano. Murray had a great sense of humor and claimed that this job had quite a few “ups and downs”.
In the 1960’s, Murray, and his dedication to Jesus Christ, decided to help begin a newly established church in Watauga, Texas in a two-story home. They built and moved to the North Forty home near this church and later, he became a co-signer of the newly built building for the Watauga Church of Christ. In the 1970’s-80’s Murray experienced a godly calling on his life to officially learn Polish, the language of his parents, so he could join in the translation of English to Polish with Ed Wharton and share the gospel to the people of communist Poland where God’s word was forsaken in homes and churches. That transition had Murray traveling to Poland, retiring early in complete faith to God and moving to Vienna, Austria. Murray and Dorothea became missionaries in Eastern Europe when a position opened in Vienna, Austria. Murray moved into the position of Director of Eastern European Missions where bibles and faith based literature
were printed and distributed in former communist nations. Murray and Dorothea hosted hundreds of people in their home in Vienna for 21 years. There are countless stories of people receiving God’s word through this avenue, as well as baptisms. A favorite story Murray tells, is driving with a convoy of trucks delivering needed food in Poland. Both Murray and Dorothea traveled extensively in most of the eastern European countries, delivering the appropriate language text of faith-based material. Murray also loved to drive his car. He drove across Europe, no matter the road sign language barriers. He had a favorite joke that had him naming himself, “a master driver”.
After 21 years, Murray and Dorothea moved back to the states and built a home on the property he inherited from his father in Griswold, Connecticut. He retired while in his 70’s from the foreign mission field and found another church home where he served as an Elder and treasurer at the Groton Church of Christ. He was still serving as a 90 year old. He made annual driving trips to Texas through the years to visit his daughters and grandchildren. He was 89 years old on his last round trip drive from Connecticut to Texas. As one of his family stated, he lived an impressive life.
Murray leaves three daughters, Karen Shaver, and husband Guy, Sheri Gray and husband David and Lori Jackson: seven grandchildren: Cori Ruiz and husband Edgar, Rusty Long and wife Brittany, Erin Starkey and husband Seth, Joni Dorothea Long, Michael Gray, Matthew Gray and wife Katie, Tiffany Harris and husband Matt and eleven great-grandchildren: Evan and Zeke Ruiz; Arelli, Ezri, Becker and Neri Long; Lincoln and Margo Starkey; Asher and Samuel Gray, Mackenzie Harris and a sister, Lucy Leferve of Jewitt City, Connecticut. Murray was preceded in death by his wife.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Eastern European Mission, 777 Lonesome Dove Trail. Hurst, Texas 76054.

On Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. a Live Stream of Murray Czeczotka Memorial Service will be viewable here https://video.ibm.com/channel/DURgpAb2EXm