Macoy A McMurray

Click below to listen to the funeral service. Available until November 6, 2017.

Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, Macoy A McMurray, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, July 27, 2017. He was ninety-three.

Born December 2, 1923 in Wardboro, Idaho, to Arbie and Annie Arvilla Parker McMurray, he loved sharing memories of his happy childhood years in Lago, Central, and Burley, Idaho, and often told how deeply he was touched by his parents’ great leap of faith in changing careers and moving to Salt Lake City in 1937 during the height of the depression. A passionate baseball player in high school, he dreamed of playing major league baseball, but his life took a different path. After graduating from South High School, he studied engineering at the University of Utah, served two years in the Navy during World War II, filled a two-year mission for the LDS Church in the Southern States, and then on September 2, 1948, married Marjorie Driggs, his long-time sweetheart, for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. He obtained a JD degree at the University of Utah, and then practiced law as he and Marjorie raised their seven children.

All his life, Macoy was a devoted member of the LDS Church, and for many years taught early morning seminary at East High and Institute for BYU in Salt Lake City. He and Marjorie loved reaching out to those in need, and over the years took into their home and hearts many who became like family, particularly their dear ones who came as refugees. He loved his family, the Lord, the Church, the gospel, the Book of Mormon, missionary work, guiding tours on temple square, the annual Parker family reunions, feeding guests at his home, and taking literally hundreds to dinner at the Chuck-A-Rama.

He is survived by his children: James & Hyun McMurray (Tacoma, WA), Ann & Robert Dale (Farmington, UT), Lynn & Charlene McMurray (Millcreek, UT), David McMurray (SLC, UT) and his former wife Vicki McMurray (American Fork, UT), Paul & Deni McMurray (Crofton, MD), Mary Ellen & Brent Mabey (SLC, UT), John & Connie McMurray (Boise, ID), and Georges & Carolyn Bonnet (SLC, UT); his brothers John (Nancy) and Steven (Lorna) McMurray; 33 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; and countless more who affectionately call him “grandpa.” He is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his sisters Clara McMurray (Don) Gold and Betty McMurray (Garth) Orr.

The family expresses sincere gratitude to his special caregivers: his daughter Mary Ellen, who was his special guardian angel for many years; Tanya Barber; Tui and ‘Eta ‘Ofa and their children; and the kind professionals at Caregivers Support Network, who continuously watched over and cared for him in his home for the last several years.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 11:00am, at the Garden Heights Ward, 2220 East Fisher Lane (2935 South). Friends may visit with the family on Friday, August 4, from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and also at the church on Saturday morning from 9:30 am to 10:30 am prior to the funeral service. Interment: Larkin Sunset Lawn. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to the International Cultural Exchange Foundation, http://www.utahicef.org/, a foundation created by Macoy and Marjorie, and to which he contributed countless hours and money. Online guestbook to post messages for the family available at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com