"I know I'm months too late to send you my sympathy, but I still would like to send Anne and the rest of the family all the best. Once in a while I check your names in Google to check whether I can find something about Anne and Charles. Once, I got in contact with the Hatchery and I asked them if they could pass on my long mail to the family. But I never heared back from you. In 1984 - 1985 I was one of the exchange students from Belgium who had the pleasure of staying with you for a few months. Those were the moments I still remember. You were soooo lovely, nice, ... I think I was a but too young to be more grateful or to express my gratitude, but really, I'm still very grateful for the time I spent with your family. Thank you ever so much, Anne, for those great months. I'm really sorry that I found you like this but I hope that Charles will know that he was the best ... Lots of hugs, Inge Inge Vanschoenbeek Peter Benoitlaan 10, 2550 Kontich, Belgium"
In loving memory of
Charles Leslie McMurray
June 25, 1925 - March 11, 2015
Charles Leslie McMurray was born in the family home at 620 Webster Street in Webster City, Iowa, in June of 1925. He was the fourth child in the family of Murray and Margaret Miller McMurray, to be joined the following year by the fifth, Mary. His growing up was normal for a small Iowa town. Two broken arms, the second one severe, by the time he was ten, reflected an active childhood. That break took him to the Mayo Clinic in 1935, which then consisted of only one building!
Class president his senior year in 1942-43, he was also active in a variety of athletics. His football team defeated Iowa Falls for the conference championship in November of 1942. With only one day's rest they played a very good Fort Dodge team to help with bond sales for World War II. Much to the amazement of the Dodger fans, Webster City triumphed with a 14 to 6 win. He always considered that the highlight of his athletic career even though his basketball team was the second best in the state, losing the championship game in Des Moines to Mason City.
Charles graduated from high school in 1943 when he was 17 and immediately enlisted in the Army. Although he volunteered for overseas duty, in the following 33 months he was never sent outside the country.
Discharged from the Army in the spring of 1946, he was allowed to enroll at Grinnell College for some courses that fit a shortened time frame. That was one of the luckiest things that ever happened to him. He met Anne Royal of Des Moines, a friend of his sister, who was also in her second year there. Within a month he knew this was the girl he wanted to marry. He did, two years later. In the summer of 1948, after Anne graduated, they married in Des Moines. She worked at Grinnell as the secretary to the Dean of Men while Charles finished his last year, graduating in 1949.
That summer they returned to Webster City to make their home as Charles joined his father and brother, John, in the McMurray Hatchery business. Within a few years Murray McMurray withdrew and died shortly after. For the next 40 years John and Charles continued in the business together. In the 1980's John's son Murray and Mike Lubbers joined the firm, taking ownership of it in 1990. In 20 years they made it the largest Rare Breed Hatchery in the world.
Anne and Charles first lived in an apartment in the early 1950's but with a larger family they soon built their own home at 512 Pleasant Street in Webster City in which they still live. Eventually five children brightened their lives and the home has served them well. As the family grew, foreign travel came to interest them more and more. It was slowed for a time as they survived a plane crash in New Zealand, but never stopped.
Golf was also a lifelong pleasure --- he had four holes in one during his playing days.
Charles was elected to the Kendall Young Library Board at an early age and served as a trustee for 30 years. As the financial officer for the addition to the building in the 1990's, he raised the final million dollars for it's completion. The Congregational Church was a family interest from 1876 on. Besides the usual church duties Charles was chairman of the Webster City Centennial and assisted with many historical additions to the Quasquicentennial. He served on the Webster City School Board in the 1970's. The Webster City Rotary Club also offered international service by way of its Group Study Exchange Program. In 1994, Charles competed for the leadership of this group, won the position, and spent a month in south India with a team of four others. It was a once in a lifetime exposure to a distant yet captivating life style.
Anne and Charles celebrated their sixty-sixth wedding anniversary in July of 2014. Their five children are: Douglas ( Dianne ) McMurray of St. Paul, MN; David (Joan) McMurray of Corvallis, OR; Margaret ( Denise ) McMurray of Madison, WI; Scott (Stephanie) McMurray of Spring Lake, NJ and Beth McMurray of St. Thomas, USVI They have eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory would be welcomed at the Kendall Young Library or First Congregational - U.C.C.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, at the First Congregational- U.C.C. in Webster City, with Rev. Craig Blaufuss officiating. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17.
Write a personal tribute for the McMurray family at www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com.
Tributes
"Oh, my. I write this with a heavy heart, but tempered by all the years of happy memories. Charles' wife, Anne, was among my very best friends since we were 12 years old. I was a Bridesmaid in their wedding less than a year before Anne was Matron of honor in my wedding. My husband and Charles became friends immediately and our friendship has been close these many years despite the many miles that separated us. We never returned to Iowa for family visits that we did not get together and Anne and Chuck would visit us at our cabin in Estes Park. We were even able to help them celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary which was held with their children in Estes Park. To Anne and all the children I send my heartfelt sympathy. You are all in my thoughts and prayers msn.comand I send you my love. "
"A role model that gave me the confidence to pursue a business career. I have always had the greatest respect for Charles. I observed that his children were well grounded and excellent citizens due to great parents. I am a better person for having such a great scouting experience provided by Charles and John. Bruce Keenan"
"To the McMuray Family from Merle P. Prater, 2110 Burnett Ave., Ames, IA 50010.
My knowing the McMurrays goes back to the Scout Troop under Murray that I joined in 1932, and I knew Charles and John real well. From the obituary in the paper I remember Mary, but the other two boys names escape me.
I have fantastic memories of the Scout Troop -- the many contests, and the HONOR 10 weeks at the Clear Lake McMurray cottage, fishing and all; recalling that Carl Gore (from the Hatchery) was Ass't Scoutmaster. What fond and crazy memories of those times.
My wife, Elsie. and I had our 70th wedding anniversary on March 10th this year. I will be 93 on June 4th, God willing, and both are in fairly good health.
When returning to Iowa in 1984, Elsie and I visited John and Jean (Hurd) whose parents were good friends of my folks, the Forrest Praters. So many memories.
The best to all during these times.
Merle
"
"As a daughter in the Talcott family--members of the same church and avid supporters of the libray and civic organizations, our families were well known to each other. For me my kindrgarten tour of the hatchery plus visits with the Mc Murrays are cherished memories. I hope the McMurray family will enjoy happy memories of their times together and find peace in this sad time for them. Lee and Beth Christiansen"
"I worked at the hatchery for one season and enjoyed everyone there, This family is one of Webster City's longtime greatest families. I still think of the Hatchery when I see people who order chickens."
"When I heard of Charles death, I cannot explain the sadness I felt in my heart. I will miss Charles coming to the "Hatchery" , propping himself up on the side of my desk and telling me "Happy Birthday", and if he wasn't there he never missed sending a card...you see we shared the same birthdate! Thank you Charles for your kindness and the memories working for you!"
"My sincerest sympathies to the McMurray families. My gosh, as I grew up in the UCC, Webster City, IA, there was always a McMurray around somewhere. Such a respected gentleman was Charles. He will be missed in and around Webster City, IA. A lot of children, grand children and great-grand children between Charles' family and that of his brother, John. May you rest in God's peace, Mr. Charles McMurray."