George F. Murdoch
December 18, 1931 — April 30, 2004
George F. Murdoch, 72, of 4630 Fairways Court, died Friday, April 30, 2004, in St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, following a short illness. Services: 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion, by the Rev. Mike Morgan and Rev. Stan Wierson. Burial: Linwood Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, with military rites. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Survivors include his wife, Marlyce; two sons, Kenneth Murdoch of Iowa City and John Murdoch and wife Kim of Marion; a daughter, Leigh Enneking and husband Craig of Marion.
Also surviving are his grandchildren, Brett, Jaime and Hailey Murdoch, Megan and Kyle Enneking and step-grandchildren, Brock, Cody and Jordan Bickford; and former daughter-in-law, Kathy Rae Murdoch of Marion.
George was preceded in death by his parents.
He was born the son of Kenneth V. and Lois Faye Beach Murdoch on December 18, 1931, in Evanston, Illinois. The family moved to Marion, in 1933. George graduated from Marion High School in 1950, and from Dartmouth College in 1954. On June 26, 1954, in Marion, he was united in marriage to Marlyce Anderson. In 1956 George joined the family business, Murdoch Funeral Homes, assisting his parents in the daily operation. In 1959 he graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago as class president and valedictorian. He then returned to Marion as a 3rd generation funeral director. Upon his retirement in 1990, his son and daughter became the 4th generation to operate the family business. George served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during the Korean Conflict, attaining the rank of Captain.
George was a member of First United Methodist Church of Marion; Marion Host Lions Club; Marion Masonic Lodge No. 6, AF & AM; Chapter No. 10, RAM; Cedar Rapids Consistory, El Kahir Shrine and the Jesters; Cedar Rapids Court No. 139, R.O.J.; Indian Creek Country Club of Marion; Silvercrest Country Club of Decorah; and Cotton Creek Country Club of Gulf Shores, Alabama.
He was a former board member of the Marion Public Library and served on the Board of Directors at Farmers State Bank of Marion. George was past president of the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Marion YMCA. He served ten years as a member of the Marion Independent School Board and was inducted into the Marion High School Hall of Fame in 1991.
By appointment of Governor Robert Ray, George served six years as a member of Iowa Board of Mortuary Science Examiners. He was a forty-five year member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, a longtime member of the National Funeral Directors Association and was a charter member of the International Order of the Golden Rule.
George was also involved with numerous other clubs and organizations. He was so proud of the City of Marion and dedicated his professional life to its betterment.
George and Marlyce enjoyed their time at their other homes in Gulf Shores, Alabama and Decorah, Iowa, where they developed many close friendships in both cities.
Military rites by Marion American Legion Post 298.
A memorial fund has been established in George's memory.
Survivors include his wife, Marlyce; two sons, Kenneth Murdoch of Iowa City and John Murdoch and wife Kim of Marion; a daughter, Leigh Enneking and husband Craig of Marion.
Also surviving are his grandchildren, Brett, Jaime and Hailey Murdoch, Megan and Kyle Enneking and step-grandchildren, Brock, Cody and Jordan Bickford; and former daughter-in-law, Kathy Rae Murdoch of Marion.
George was preceded in death by his parents.
He was born the son of Kenneth V. and Lois Faye Beach Murdoch on December 18, 1931, in Evanston, Illinois. The family moved to Marion, in 1933. George graduated from Marion High School in 1950, and from Dartmouth College in 1954. On June 26, 1954, in Marion, he was united in marriage to Marlyce Anderson. In 1956 George joined the family business, Murdoch Funeral Homes, assisting his parents in the daily operation. In 1959 he graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago as class president and valedictorian. He then returned to Marion as a 3rd generation funeral director. Upon his retirement in 1990, his son and daughter became the 4th generation to operate the family business. George served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during the Korean Conflict, attaining the rank of Captain.
George was a member of First United Methodist Church of Marion; Marion Host Lions Club; Marion Masonic Lodge No. 6, AF & AM; Chapter No. 10, RAM; Cedar Rapids Consistory, El Kahir Shrine and the Jesters; Cedar Rapids Court No. 139, R.O.J.; Indian Creek Country Club of Marion; Silvercrest Country Club of Decorah; and Cotton Creek Country Club of Gulf Shores, Alabama.
He was a former board member of the Marion Public Library and served on the Board of Directors at Farmers State Bank of Marion. George was past president of the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Marion YMCA. He served ten years as a member of the Marion Independent School Board and was inducted into the Marion High School Hall of Fame in 1991.
By appointment of Governor Robert Ray, George served six years as a member of Iowa Board of Mortuary Science Examiners. He was a forty-five year member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, a longtime member of the National Funeral Directors Association and was a charter member of the International Order of the Golden Rule.
George was also involved with numerous other clubs and organizations. He was so proud of the City of Marion and dedicated his professional life to its betterment.
George and Marlyce enjoyed their time at their other homes in Gulf Shores, Alabama and Decorah, Iowa, where they developed many close friendships in both cities.
Military rites by Marion American Legion Post 298.
A memorial fund has been established in George's memory.
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