McMurray, John M. (1915-2010)
MCMURRAY, MILLER, HURD, RICKEY, PIGOT, BALDERSON, BYBEE, SMITH, SAINTFORT, CUENO-TOY, CUENO
Posted By: Colleen Ossman (email)
Date: 10/4/2010 at 08:11:43
Webster City Daily Freeman Journal, September 27, 2010.
John Miller McMurray, 95, of Webster City, died September 23, 2010 at Hamilton Hospital in Webster City surrounded by his children. Visitation with friends and family will be Monday, September 27, 2010 from 5:00-8:00 pm at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Webster City. A memorial service will be held at the church on Tuesday, September 28, at 11:00 am, preceded by a private graveside service at the family plot at Graceland Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com .
John Miller McMurray was born June 4, 1915 in Webster City, Iowa to Murray McMurray and Margaret Miller McMurray. He attended the Webster City public schools graduating in 1932, Webster City Junior College for one year, Grinnell College graduating in 1936, and Yale University School of Forestry for one year. In June 1938 he and (Georgia) Jean Hurd, also of Webster City, were married in the First Congregational Church and enjoyed the next 72 years together in Webster City. He served in WWII in the Pacific Theatre, US Navy, 1944-46. In 1937 he joined his father in the Murray McMurray Hatchery, and continued in the family business with his brother Charles until 1991. In the Boy Scout troop begun in 1913 by his father, he was active as a scout, an assistant scoutmaster, and a scoutmaster in the 46 years from 1926-1972. He was a lifelong member of the First Congregational UCC Church; he served as Sunday School teacher, choir member, youth fellowship leader, trustee, and member of various committees over the years. He served on the Webster City Community School District Board of Directors, the Hospice-Respite of Hamilton County as volunteer visitor and on the executive board, and was a member of Birthday Club, and Diamond K Kiwanis.
John's wife, Jean, died on May 21, 2010. He also was preceded in death by his parents and sister Nancy.
He is survived by his siblings Barbara Rickey of Issaquah, WA, Charles McMurray of Webster City, and Mary Pigot of Halifax, Nova Scotia and by his five children: Ann Balderson of Rock Island, Illinois; Tom McMurray (Mary) of Iowa City: Murray McMurray (Paula Chuchvara) of Webster City; Caroline Cueno Bybee (Jerry) of Maquoketa; and Sarah Smith (Matthew) of Pena Blanca, New Mexico. John was the proud grandfather of twelve grandchildren; Jennifer Balderson Saintfort, Alan Balderson, Seth McMurray (deceased), Anya McMurray, John McMurray, Katherine Cueno-Toy, Nicole Cueno, Andy McMurray, Peter Cueno, Libby McMurray, Dylan Smith, Juliet Smith; and four great-grandchildren, Max and Luc Saintfort, and Sawyer and Cael Balderson.
Gifts in memory of John may be made to the John McMurray Memorial Fund or to the First Congregational UCC Church, or to a choice designated by the donor.
John's love of all growing things, but most of all the many trees and native prairie he planted near his house, has been passed down to each generation that followed, a legacy of reverence for the natural world.
Say a prayer, send some wishes, look for a new star, listen for a new bird, or plant a new tree.
Hamilton Obituaries maintained by Lynn McCleary.
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