Leroy Joe Murray III, 87

Leroy Joe Murray III peacefully left his earthly grip to be in the arms of his Savior on January 20, 2022, at the young age of 87 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, surrounded by loved ones.

Leroy was born on October 3, 1934 in Walla Walla, Washington, to Leroy Joe Murray II (Roy) and Mabel Beeson Murray. As a young boy Leroy took the hard knocks of life when he flunked the fourth grade. After finishing the fourth grade the second time around, the teachers told him, "Junior, you are still as stupid as you were the first time around.”

The harshness must have struck a chord in young Junior because his light bulb kicked on in 6th grade producing straight A's from then on, and the light switch was never turned off, truly, for the rest of his life.

If only those teachers could have seen the accomplishments this young man achieved throughout his career. Working in his father’s radio, TV and foreign car repair shop furthered Leroy's on the job experiences, expanding his knowledge about how to make a living in life and enhancing his desire to have a powerful and unwavering work ethic. Which by the way, must be in the Murray bloodline, right?

Leroy remembers picking strawberries to earn money for his first gun, a .32 Winchester special … and another love was born, both guns and strawberries.

He graduated from Sandpoint High School (the last graduating class in that building) in 1953. He immediately started his continuing education at the University of Idaho and received his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1957.

There at the university he met a lovely little blonde girl named Carolyn Sue Brabb and love took its course for them as they married on her 20th birthday, September 1, 1956. They later blessed their union in 1958 with a daughter Rebecca Sue (Becky) and in 1960 a son, Leroy Joe Murray IV (Joe).

Tragically, Sue unexpectedly passed away in 1962 leaving their family empty. Leroy took work where he could, all the while tending to the needs of his two small children. They lived in Alaska for a while after the big earthquake and he put his electrical engineering magic to work.

Becky and Joe remember the fun they had with their dad there, lots of fishing and sights to see. In 1965 Leroy married Marcia Blood and the family became whole again. Leroy and Marcia later added to the family a son, Myron, in 1969 and another son, Marty, in 1970.

If anyone ever had a vice, it was not Leroy, and he was proud to tell you about it. He never ever drank, smoked or drank a cup of coffee. "I never want to be held captive by something unnecessary, irrelevant or excessive,” he would say. But there is one thing he could not say no

to and that was a huckleberry pie. Why not? Those mountains were ripe for the picking. Family and friends were blessed with his harvest of the tart berries and even better yet when shared over a competitive game of UNO.

Leroy is survived by his loving family: his sister, Joan Brown; daughter, Rebecca Sue Keck (companion Mark); and sons, Joe Murray (wife Linda), Myron Murray (wife Hanna), and Marty Murray (companion Bobby); his grandchildren, Jacob Keck (wife Crissa), Emily Gottschalk (husband Russell), L.J. Murray (wife Sylvia), Lindsey Dunbar (husband Jack), Evan Lovet (wife Anna); great-grandchildren, Jacob Roy, Jocelyn,

Brooklyn, Mak, Ali, Ryan, Owen, Connor, Joey, Mya, Montalia, Ruby, and one on the way. He was also uncle to Margie Myers, Frankie Brown, Diane and Suzette. Leroy also leaves behind his childhood friend that he was neighbors and family travelers with while living in Sandpoint, Wanda Savage.

Wanda said that back then as kids she had a secret crush on Leroy. Later in life her crush came to fruition and she became his beautiful companion that he dearly loved.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Sue in 1962; and dear Marcia, in 2020.

The family plans a private memorial service at a later date and will celebrate his life with a piece of huckleberry pie. Please, in the future, when you have a slice of your own, look up to the heaven's and fondly say, "Leroy this bite is for you."