Feature Story & Photos by Larry H. Oskin, South Lake Tablet
Kassier Kyler-Murry has become a very caring and committed champion for Clermont and South Lake. She continues to organize and successfully hold events to help charities, children, underprivileged families, and those in need. Murry proudly credits her mother and father for inspiring her to always give back to the community and to help others.
Kassier Murry is originally from Ocala; one of twelve children. Her father, Benjamin Phillip Kyler, worked independently in his construction company and built many of the homes in the Ocala area. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom, who operated her own daycare center with 32 children. Kassier notes, “My mother and father were both very strong role models. With mom doing plenty of community charitable service work, my father always provided for us, while also inspiring us to help others.”
She was born the second child to the youngest. Her siblings included Leslie, Clifford, Mary, Betty, Henry, Jerome, and Sherikey. With her mother’s three sad miscarriages, her deceased siblings also include Leslie, Phyllissa, and Clifford.
Kassier was home-schooled and graduated from The Forest High School, Home of the Wildcats. While aspiring to be a nurse practitioner, she graduated from Central Florida Community College at the top of her class with a Nursing Certificate. Kassier stayed at home to help her mother with her daycare business until she retired prior to beginning her professional career as a nursing assistant at the Palm Gardens Nursing Home. She later received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing as a Registered Medical Assistant. Upon graduation, she was offered a hospital position as a Clinical Tech III Nurse on the medical telemetry floor, working 12-hour shifts. On numerous occasions, she would stay over to cover someone else’s shift. One day, she was called to work on the cardiovascular floor and it was then that she fell in love with the heart and was amazed at how it functioned. It was shortly after this, when Murry was offered a position working with a group of well-respected Cardiologist, Dr. Ramon Torres, Dr. Georg Couturier and Dr. Daniel Rieders.
Murry always had a thirst for learning something new. Over the next 23 years, she did everything from assisting with Cardiac Stress Tests, Cardiac Ablation Procedures and running the Coumadin — Warfarin Clinic, which is to prevent blood clots from forming or becoming larger. She triaged patients, performed electrocardiogram procedures, intravenous lines, drew blood and non-invasive treatments. She supervised the pharmaceutical relations for the office and all of its patients. She trained other medical assistants in prescriptions. Often working 12 to 14-hour days noting, “I always loved my nursing career and all of the job responsibilities that came with it.”
Driving down to Clermont with her daughter to spend the weekends with her sister’s family, she would often attend New Jacobs Chapel MBC with them. In 2012, Murry and her daughter were seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident by a drunk driver. Many months and years following, Kassier was blessed to have her family, close friends and her colleagues by her side. Today, Murry allows nothing to stand in her way of getting the job done! Although, her nursing career has ended, she continues to volunteer in the community, mentoring kids and teens, volunteering at area schools.
Commitment To Community Service! Kassier continues to be a motivating leader and an active volunteer with Kiwanis Club of Clermont, The South Lake Junior Women’s Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a board member, Christian Men in Action, Boys & Girls Clubs, NAACP, Family Matters Ministry at NJC, various non-profit charity organizations and the City of Clermont. She independently organizes many diverse charitable events to help needy families throughout Clermont and South Lake, inclusive of fundraisers, community picnics, food banks, special ministries, police youth programs, seniors, feeding the homeless, back-to-school backpack programs, sharing hot Thanksgiving meals, Christmas and Easter toy giveaways with support from a variety of gracious sponsors and volunteers.
Her ongoing work to help underprivileged families, community groups and fundraising for non-profit organizations is very appreciated. She modestly says, “I’m a very shy and private person. I’ve witnessed so many people going through difficult times. I do not want to brag about my fortunes, because I know it’s a special gift from God! I happily see my 17-year-old daughter Karissa as ‘my mini me’. I’m happy with the many gifts I’ve been blessed to have. While really not looking for praise, she has received numerous service awards in recognition of her selfless efforts.
She has helped to organize and lead the Kiwanis Prayer Breakfasts and other Kiwanis events, besides planning parties and special events for other Clermont area organizations. Recently, she spearheaded a large Community BBQ Picnic in the Cagan’s Crossing area for underprivileged families with free foods, treats and gifts. Over 400 people attended.
Kassier noted, “I just wanted to make everyone feel loved. I wanted to see happy smiles on the faces of the parents and children. We really do need to be concerned about helping others! My priorities are to help feed and educate underprivileged children and families in our community. No matter what age, neighborhood, race, culture or ethnicity, we all must learn to help and work together!”
Kassier Kyler-Murry is the first lady of Clermont, married to Mayor Tim Murry. While meeting at church, they quickly hit it off and dated for 5 years. They have now been together for over 8 years. She strives to help Clermont become a better place with art, culture and history. She loves her family and circle of friends, continually looking to make new friends. She notes how “Tim has always been there for her and how she will always be there for him.”
She adds, “Clermont is a great place to live! I absolutely love Clermont! I enjoy my simple life! Life is beautiful! I’m so blessed to be here. I really like to work behind the scenes as I want to help others to be happy while enjoying a beautiful life. Life is what you make it! Even though I did not understand it all at the time, I am very thankful for everything my parents gave and taught me about helping others….” Kassier is now on the campaign trail, helping Tim Murry in his quest to be re-elected for a second term as Mayor of Clermont.
While she used to speak Spanish fluently with so many diverse medical clients, she now wants to learn sign language and how to paint. She even wants to learn how to give haircuts for needy kids, so they can go to school with a positive self-image and to help build their confidence. She would even like to learn how to paint and lay ceramic tiles.
Kassier concludes, “We all need to help our community with shared love! We can never look down upon anyone, especially underprivileged children and families. There is always something to be learned when we work together. We can learn from each other’s history with mutual respect for each other and for our community. I’m never bored because I will continue to live my life to the fullest!”
