A. Dale McMurtrey

A. Dale McMurtrey, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, died Friday, June 29, 2012, at his home in Boise at the age of 90 surrounded by his family. Dale was born in Nampa, Idaho, July 31, 1921, the son of Wiley Emeral and Pauline Sermon McMurtrey.

When Dale was two years old, the family moved to Grandview where his father worked for the Bruneau Sheep Company. Dale graduated from the Hayland Grade School at Chatten Flats in 1933 and attended Grandview High School until the family moved to Mountain Home in 1937.

He graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1939 and helped his father on the farm and worked at various jobs until he entered the U.S. Navy in July 1942. He became a Gunners' Mate Second Class in the Armed Guard which served aboard merchant ships. On April 6, 1943, Dale married Shirley L. Pierce of Mountain Home. She joined him in San Francisco in the fall where he was a gunnery instructor at Treasure Island. He was separated from active duty in October 1945.

Dale and Shirley returned to Mountain Home where he worked for his father-in-law, Ralph Pierce, Shell Oil Distributor, until they moved to Boise in March 1948 to enter funeral service. Dale apprenticed for Clyde Summers with Summers Funeral Home.

After his graduation from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in December of 1950, they returned to Boise, and he became manager of the firm. He purchased the funeral home in February 1956 and was owner-manager until 1987 when he sold it to three of his employees.

Dale loved being a Funeral Director. He was proud to be able to say he had served families well -- many of whom became dear friends.

Dale always regretted not attending college. Because of this, he was especially interested in youth and assisted many young people with their education and other ways in which they could better themselves. Just a few of the young people he took an interest in were: Jim McMurtrey, who lived with the family while attending college, also working at Summers; his niece, Terry Manduca, whom he thought of as a daughter; and Kellee Sharples who Dad helped obtain a year of schooling in France.

Dale was always there for not only family, but friends at a moment's notice.

Dale was very active in community and fraternal organizations. He was commander of Elmore Post No. 26, American Legion, in 1946-47 and continued his activity in the American Legion after moving to Boise. He was Chef de Gare of the 40 et 8 for the State of Idaho. He served as president of the Boise Kiwanis Club in 1960, the Idaho Funeral Directors' Association, the Eh Capa Bareback Riding Club, and the Poacher's Club.

He has been active in Masonic bodies, a member of Idaho Lodge No. 1, A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite and York Rite Bodies, and El Korah Shrine Temple. He served as potentate of the El Korah Shrine in 1974 and received honorary KCCH and 33rd Scottish Rite degrees. He was also a member and past Chieftan of the Royal Order of Scotland Davidson Clan.

He served on the Boards of National Selected Morticians, St. Alphonsus Hospital, Citizens National Bank, Booth Memorial Hospital, Salvation Army, San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, Ada County 4-H Advisory, and on the board for Others -- an organization that combats drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.

He served on the Emergency Medical Board for Ada County, the Farmers and Merchants Bank Board, was president of the Scottish Rite Foundation, was an active member of the University Christian Church and served on the Regional Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of South Idaho.

Dale is survived by his wife, Shirley; their two children, Shirley Anne and Scott Dale; two granddaughters, Crystal and Misty; and four great grandsons, Kristopher Wright, Chaz and Cash McWilliams, and Garrend Miller. Other survivors are two sisters, Karen Sasz and Norma Sell. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, E. A. (Skip) and Fred (Swede) McMurtrey; and one sister, Sheila Deisering, Newark, N.Y.

A viewing will be Friday, July 6, 2012 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Summers Funeral Home, 1205 West Bannock Street, Boise. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 7, 2012, at University Christian Church, Boise. As per A. Dale's policy, we will begin services at 11 a.m. "SHARP," so be early!

Arrangements are by Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel and Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, Mountain Home. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Fairfax Ave. & Virginia St., Salt Lake City, UT 84103; or Booth Memorial in Boise, Idaho.