| Lawrence
Jay McMurtrey, 82, a longtime resident in the
Woodinville-Redmond area, passed away on Saturday,
April 15. He was born in Antelope, Idaho, March
13, 1924, and spent his early years on a dry
farm near Ririe, Idaho. He graduated from Shelley
High School and from University of Colorado
with a BSME. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S.
Navy V-12 program and attended Annapolis. After
graduating, he was assigned as engineering
officer on a destroyer and was en route to
his ship on VJ Day. While stationed in Bremerton,
Wash., he met his future wife, Dolly Hawks.
They were married in 1947. After leaving the
Navy, he went to work for Boeing, working on
the B-47 and B-52 and on space programs, including
the Stage 1 Rocket, Burner II, and as engineering
manager for the navigation system on the Lunar
Rover vehicle.
He was also active in the community, serving
on local school boards and in local politics.
He was active with the farm bureau, working
on farmers’ rights and farm preservation
initiatives. After 33 years at Boeing, he
retired to become a full-time farmer, first
growing vegetables and then Christmas trees
on his McMurtrey Tree Farm in the Sammamish
Valley. He was active in the LDS Church and
served in the Seattle LDS Temple for over
15 years. He was also active in genealogy
research and volunteered his time at the
Family History Center helping others research
their ancestry.
His greatest joy was his family and he was
proud of his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53
years, who died in April 2000. He is survived
by his six children: Glenn (Mary) McMurtrey,
Laie, Hawaii; Kathi McMurtrey, Bothell; Gary
(Shari) McMurtrey, China Spring, Texas; Lu
Ann Summers, Queen Creek, Ariz.; David (Karen)
McMurtrey, Loveland, Col.; Jana (Pablo) Sifuentes,
Redmond,; 30 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren;
and by his brothers and sisters: Gale (Ardath)
McMurtrey, Lowell “Mick” (Norva)
McMurtrey, Carly (Clive) Arave, Roxie (Wayne)
Beck.
Remembrances may be made to the Perpetual
Education Fund sponsored by the LDS Church.
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