Carl Lee Murray

Carl Murray, a long time resident of Blackfoot and Island Park, Idaho, died February 14, 2015 at the VA Nursing home in Pocatello, Idaho.  
He was born in Kuna, Idaho on July 29, 1921 to Joseph Murray and Lota Francis Cotham Murray.
Carl spent most of his childhood in Pocatello where he graduated from Pocatello High School in 1939. He fondly talked about his paper route, shooting rabbits in the area that is now part of Idaho State University and all the friends he made in school.
He attended the University of Idaho - Southern Branch (now Idaho State University). He worked many jobs while he was going to school, including a magazine route that allowed him to travel to Blackfoot, Aberdeen and places in between. He worked at the Cement plant in Inkom and had a work study job under Dr. Baldwin in the Chemistry Department.  
On August 10, 1941 he married Carol Hahn, the love of his life, in Kemmerer, Wyoming. This was a secret wedding as Carol was in Nursing School and marriage was not allowed by the school. Later they had a more formal service, thus they celebrated two anniversaries each year.  
Carl served in the U. S. Army Air Corp during World War II as a navigator. After the War, he attended and graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Chemical Engineering.  He moved to Blackfoot where he landed a job at the Chem Plant at what is now the INL. His ability in engineering has been carried on by his grandchildren who have or are seeking master’s degrees in Engineering and Math. Carl was a past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge in Blackfoot and a Lay Reader at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Carl and Carol, with the help of their family and friends, built a cabin in Island Park where they retired. He taught his family a little carpentry, noting "always make the board do what you want it to do-not what it wants to do." Carl and Carol enjoyed many years sharing rockhounding, jewelry making, fishing and spending time with friends.  His daughter Lynda remembers how he used to get up about 2:00 AM and share scrambled egg sandwiches - an egg MacMurray. Lynda still loves egg sandwiches. Jan remembers his "Early Bird" peanut butter sandwiches and his jovial, yet determined outlook on life.  Chris fondly recalls the special times completing building projects and those moments of knowledge and joy. Allyson remembers him teaching her the Pasquale poker card trick for her speech class. And, of course, he could always make his grandchildren laugh by pulling tootsie rolls out of his ear.
Carl loved to tell jokes and memorize poetry to entertain his friends. We will always fondly remember his reciting of the Ice Worm Cocktail, RinderCella, and other works by Robert Service. And who could forget Archibald Assleboard?
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 72 North Schilling, Blackfoot Idaho, February 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.  The family requests that no flowers be sent.  Donations in memory of Carl may be made to your favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison Funeral Home, 431 N. 15th Ave., Pocatello, 232-0542.  Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.cornelisonfh.com.

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