Leland P. Murray (1913-2005) Obit
Replies: 0
Leland P. Murray (1913-2005) Obit
| KathleenBurnett (View posts) | Posted: 27 Sep 2005 2:32AM GMT |
Classification: Obituary
Surnames: Murray, Reid
Leland P. Murray was born on March 2, 1913 at his Grandfather Ashby’s home in Vernal, Utah. He was the fourth of eight children, four brothers; Wilmer, Boyd, Claude and Clyde, and three sisters Sarah, Margaret and Grace. He spent his early years as a young man in Altonah, Utah, the son of a farmer and rancher.
Lee attended “Uintah County High School†but would not be given the opportunity to finish being called home to the farm by his father to assist the family. Lee left the family farm some years later and moved to Vernal where he became a young truck driver for the Calder Creamery. He made routine runs between Vernal, Salt Lake City and the California Coast. It was at the Calder Creamery where he met a young secretary, Theda Reid. Theda wrote in her journal that:
“…these years were jammed full of important events and memories that we cannot but remember throughout the rest of our days. Years of puppy love and true affection and marriage.â€
Lee and Theda were married March 28, 1937 where they began life’s adventure. They worked and traveled together. They traveled throughout the northwest, attended the San Francisco Centennial Exposition, checked out Pasadena, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and returned home by way of Hoover Dam. This trip was the beginning of many great adventures. Lee and Theda moved to Cleveland, Ohio where Lee entered welding school. After school they returned to Vernal only to be called into military service. With Lee’s affinity for mechanics and welding he would be called to fix and repair tanks. Military service took them to Tacoma, Wash., Lompoc, Calif. and Ogden, Utah. While many career options would present themselves during this time, they would eventually return to their home, Vernal, to continue careers and family. Their first child, Dana, was born in 1941 and their second, Rand, in 1945. Their third, Kevin, was born in 1957 as a late-life surprise.
Having grown up on a farm, Lee was a very hard worker. Hard work characterized his life. Lee worked for a time at Perry Motors and other garages before taking his first gamble by opening his own business. Lee’s Sinclair Service began in 1958 and would continue successful until expiration of his long-term lease. Lee’s skills as a mechanic were widely known, with clients as far away as Salt Lake City. He was a primary contractor for US GSA and the United States Postal Service. Lee could fix anything. In 1979 the lease holder of the station property elected not to renew the lease opting to build a convenience store in its place (which by the way turned out to be unsuccessful). Originally this was a blow to Lee until the President of Bradshaw Auto Parts called and requested that he join their team. This turned out to be a great blessing as the hard manual labor in Lee’s life to this point had begun to take its toll. Lee had survived two heart attacks and other injuries in his relatively young life. The Auto Parts position was less taxing physically. Lee stayed at Bradshaw’s until he retired some years later after bypass surgery.
Lee was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in a number of ward and stake callings. He worked a great deal in the young men’s program and Sunday School. Lee was an officer in the Vernal Lions club for some years and remained an active Lion until his departure from Vernal. In his early years he was a member of the Uintah County Search and Rescue.
Lee was a great father and grandfather, whether working in the shop, pounding nails in a stump, cooking “flap jacks,†or hiking in the mountains. He loved his kids and grandkids, and they loved him … a gentle giant. His huge strong hands brought a sense of safety and comfort.
Lee’s life would begin to change in 1990 when Theda was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2000 the disease had overtaken her mind and she no longer knew her friends and family and Alzheimer’s care was required. During this period his son-in-law would pass away of heart failure and his son, Rand, to pneumonia. On Aug. 14, 2003 the disease claimed Theda’s life. Lee continued to battle his own infirmities since that time. His gentle heart has, to quote his grandson, “needed new batteries†several times the last few years. On Dec. 16, the batteries ran down.
Lee is preceded in death by his wife, Theda Reid Murray, son, Rand J Murray, his father and mother, sisters Sarah, Margaret and Grace, and brothers, Wilmer, Boyd and Claude. He is survived by his brother Clyde, daughter, Dana Lee Sutton, son Kevin Reid Murray, Grandchildren Traci Waite, Troy Sutton, Elora Murray and Christopher Murray, and great-grandchildren, Kira and Kelsi Waite, Dylan and Nathan Sutton.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 20, 2004 at the Vernal 9th Ward LDS Chapel. A viewing was held one hour prior to the services. Burial was located at the Maeser-Fairview Cemetery with military honors by American Legion Post 124 & 11. Services were provided by Thomson-Blackburn Vernal Mortuary.
Published in the Vernal Express Dec 22, 2004
Lee attended “Uintah County High School†but would not be given the opportunity to finish being called home to the farm by his father to assist the family. Lee left the family farm some years later and moved to Vernal where he became a young truck driver for the Calder Creamery. He made routine runs between Vernal, Salt Lake City and the California Coast. It was at the Calder Creamery where he met a young secretary, Theda Reid. Theda wrote in her journal that:
“…these years were jammed full of important events and memories that we cannot but remember throughout the rest of our days. Years of puppy love and true affection and marriage.â€
Lee and Theda were married March 28, 1937 where they began life’s adventure. They worked and traveled together. They traveled throughout the northwest, attended the San Francisco Centennial Exposition, checked out Pasadena, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and returned home by way of Hoover Dam. This trip was the beginning of many great adventures. Lee and Theda moved to Cleveland, Ohio where Lee entered welding school. After school they returned to Vernal only to be called into military service. With Lee’s affinity for mechanics and welding he would be called to fix and repair tanks. Military service took them to Tacoma, Wash., Lompoc, Calif. and Ogden, Utah. While many career options would present themselves during this time, they would eventually return to their home, Vernal, to continue careers and family. Their first child, Dana, was born in 1941 and their second, Rand, in 1945. Their third, Kevin, was born in 1957 as a late-life surprise.
Having grown up on a farm, Lee was a very hard worker. Hard work characterized his life. Lee worked for a time at Perry Motors and other garages before taking his first gamble by opening his own business. Lee’s Sinclair Service began in 1958 and would continue successful until expiration of his long-term lease. Lee’s skills as a mechanic were widely known, with clients as far away as Salt Lake City. He was a primary contractor for US GSA and the United States Postal Service. Lee could fix anything. In 1979 the lease holder of the station property elected not to renew the lease opting to build a convenience store in its place (which by the way turned out to be unsuccessful). Originally this was a blow to Lee until the President of Bradshaw Auto Parts called and requested that he join their team. This turned out to be a great blessing as the hard manual labor in Lee’s life to this point had begun to take its toll. Lee had survived two heart attacks and other injuries in his relatively young life. The Auto Parts position was less taxing physically. Lee stayed at Bradshaw’s until he retired some years later after bypass surgery.
Lee was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in a number of ward and stake callings. He worked a great deal in the young men’s program and Sunday School. Lee was an officer in the Vernal Lions club for some years and remained an active Lion until his departure from Vernal. In his early years he was a member of the Uintah County Search and Rescue.
Lee was a great father and grandfather, whether working in the shop, pounding nails in a stump, cooking “flap jacks,†or hiking in the mountains. He loved his kids and grandkids, and they loved him … a gentle giant. His huge strong hands brought a sense of safety and comfort.
Lee’s life would begin to change in 1990 when Theda was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2000 the disease had overtaken her mind and she no longer knew her friends and family and Alzheimer’s care was required. During this period his son-in-law would pass away of heart failure and his son, Rand, to pneumonia. On Aug. 14, 2003 the disease claimed Theda’s life. Lee continued to battle his own infirmities since that time. His gentle heart has, to quote his grandson, “needed new batteries†several times the last few years. On Dec. 16, the batteries ran down.
Lee is preceded in death by his wife, Theda Reid Murray, son, Rand J Murray, his father and mother, sisters Sarah, Margaret and Grace, and brothers, Wilmer, Boyd and Claude. He is survived by his brother Clyde, daughter, Dana Lee Sutton, son Kevin Reid Murray, Grandchildren Traci Waite, Troy Sutton, Elora Murray and Christopher Murray, and great-grandchildren, Kira and Kelsi Waite, Dylan and Nathan Sutton.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 20, 2004 at the Vernal 9th Ward LDS Chapel. A viewing was held one hour prior to the services. Burial was located at the Maeser-Fairview Cemetery with military honors by American Legion Post 124 & 11. Services were provided by Thomson-Blackburn Vernal Mortuary.
Published in the Vernal Express Dec 22, 2004