David Rex McMurdo, 79

David Rex McMurdo, 79, passed away Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004.

He was born July 19, 1925, in Opheim. His family moved to Whitefish when

he was an infant. Rex, as everyone called him, was an enterprising youth and

made money picking huckleberries, catching fish to sell and working several

paper routes.

Rex was only 7 years old when he met the love of his life, Vera Fern

Everhart.

During World War II Rex joined the Navy at 17 years old. He married his

childhood sweetheart, Vera, while on leave from the Navy in 1944. After the

war they traveled to Chicago where he attended Coin Electrical School.

Back in Whitefish Rex became a union electrician with Local 768, working

on numerous projects including the Hungry Horse Dam before retiring in 1982.

Rex and Vera enjoyed their summers in Whitefish, as well as their

winters in California, Arizona, and Hawaii. Vera passed away in 1998 of

cancer. Rex has been residing in Brendan House in Kalispell after suffering

a stroke in 2001.

Rex was preceded in death by his wife, Vera; parents, Perry McMurdo and

Gladys "Jean" Campbell McMurdo; his sister, Ann Margaret "Peggy"; and his

older brother, Robert McMurdo. His infant twin brothers, Michael and Jerry,

passed away in 1940, and his nephew, Michael, was killed in a car accident

in 1968.

Rex is survived by his sister, Patricia Cannon, who resides with her

husband, Lloyd, in Edmonds, Wash.; his two sons, Reggie McMurdo of

Whitefish, and Martin Ty McMurdo, who resides with his wife, Mary, in

Vancouver, Wash.; his five grandchildren, Wendy, Kevin, Jesse, Kelsey and

Connor; great-grandson, Jacob; and nieces, Carolyn, Susan, Christine, Kathy,

Cheryl, Patty, Debbie, and their families. Rex will be missed by all.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the

Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish. Lunch will be served afterward at the

V.F.W. club.

Remembrances may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars, 115 Central Ave.,

Whitefish, MT 59937; or Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100,

Kalispell, MT 59901.