William James McCurdy
William McCurdy Obituary
William (Bill) James McCurdy (74) passed away October 4, 2021. He was born in Pocatello on October 4, 1947, the oldest of six children born to Dean and Melba McCurdy. He was named after his uncle who had been killed during World War II.
Bill lived in Pocatello for all but 2 years while growing up. He never forgot his roots at Whittier Elementary and graduated from Highland High School in 1965.
For the next 35 years Bill lived, studied, and taught in many different places. He served as an LDS missionary in Hong Kong and the Philippines. He attended Brigham Young University and graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He received a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Hawaii. He taught English at various colleges in Japan and Taiwan for 13 years.
He taught at Idaho State University for brief periods in the 1980s and in 1993 and then returned to Pocatello permanently in 2000. He was an associate lecturer in the ISU Philosophy Department. Although he had retired, he taught the Asian Philosophy course earlier this calendar year.
He enjoyed philosophy, math, logic, music (including jazz and tango), languages, movies, and politics/news. He loved Japan especially, but enjoyed visiting other countries, learning about the culture and trying new foods. He had a brilliant mind, a great sense of humor, and always had a book with him.
Bill was for many years a devoted scholar of the work of the American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce and made original contributions in Peircean logic and semiotic, which he presented in academic papers at conferences in many places: Finland, Brazil, Columbia, Japan, China, Argentina.
Together with his brothers, Jack and Kevin, Bill provided much loving support and care for his parents in the last years of their lives, for which his siblings will be forever grateful.
Bill is survived by two sons, Ian Satoru Murata (Miyuki) and Anthony McCurdy (Eri); his former wife, Kazuko Murata; and his siblings: Maria Elena Dahlquist (David) , Jack, Rosalie Kirk, Steven (Karen), and Kevin; and one grandson, Shingo Murata.
Bill was an active member of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, where he served as a chanter.
Services include a memorial on Friday, October 8, 2021 at 6:00 PM at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church at 518 N 5th Ave. The funeral will be on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the same location.
He will be buried in the Basalt, Idaho, Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison Funeral Home, 431 N. 15th Ave., Pocatello.
Live broadcast of services: https://www.assumptionpocatello.net/services
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 4567, Pocatello, Idaho 83205.
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