Robert Paul McMurtry

May 17, 1924 – October 13, 2007

Robert Paul McMurtry, 83, of Marshall passed away Saturday morning, Oct. 13, 2007, in Longview. Funeral services for Mr. McMurtry were at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Marshall with Father John Himes officiating. Graveside services will be at the Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery with full Military and Masonic Honors at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. 
Mr. McMurtry was born on May 17, 1924, in Burkburnett, to F. M. McMurtry and Hazel Holcomb McMurtry. He married Margaret May on April 3, 1948, at the Andrews AFB Chapel in Washington D.C. He earned his Bachelors and Masters in Geology from Oklahoma University in 1953. He was a geologist for Mobil Oil Company for 31 years before his retirement in 1982. He moved to Marshall after his retirement and was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

He was a pilot during WWII in the European Theatre, a bomber pilot flying B-17's flying 35 missions. He was a member of the 95th Bomb Group Association and a member of the Exxon-Mobil Retiree group of Longview and an Emeritus member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He was initiated as an Apprentice Mason in Burkburnett Lodge #1027 in 1945 and received his 50 year service pin in October 2000 and was an endowed member of both Lodges. After moving to Marshall on Aug. 1, 1983, after his retirement from Mobil Oil he became a plural member of Burkburnett and Marshall Masonic Lodge #22. He was elected Senior Steward in 1987 and became a Master Mason in 1991. He received the Golden Trowel Award on June 19, 1998. Robert was installed as a 33rd degree Mason in Waco on Sept. 14, 2007. He received the Scottish Rite Degrees in the Hous ton Scottish Rite Bodies May 4, 1982, and became affiliated with the Waco Bodies in 1984. He was elected Secretary Treasurer of the Harrison County Scottish Rite Club from 1985 to the present. He was invested with the rank of KCCH in the Waco Bodies on Oct. 16, 2001, and became an endowed member in 2002. He received the York Rite Chapter, Council and Commander Degrees at Marshall in the spring of 1987, served as High Priest of the Marshall Chapter #19 for over six years, served as Thrice Illustrious Master in the Marshall Council #3 for over five years, served as commander of Gray Commandary #16 from 1991-1994, 1996, and from 2000 to the present time. He was inducted into Texas N. 23 with the rank and title of Knight York Cross of Honor, and also served as District Deputy Grand High Priest District 2-A in 1994, and as District Deputy Master of the Council District 2-A in 1996. He was inducted into the East Texas York Rite College #140 in 1994 and was inducted into the Star Chamber Council No. 298 of the Allied Masonic Degrees. Robert received as a Noble in Arabia Temple in Houston of May 4, 1982, and demitted from Arabia Temple in Houston and became affiliated with Sharon Temple in Tyler in early 1984. He joined the Provost Unit of the Sharon Temple in 1994, was secretary treasurer in 1994 and was secretary treasurer in 1985, and 1994 until now with the exception of 1996 when he held the office of Marshall of the Provost Unit. In 1996 he received the Samsar Jewel l from Sharon temple in 1996. He was also a member of the Red Cross of Constantine.

He is survived by his wife Mrs. Margaret May McMurtry of Marshall; two daughters, Patricia Pauline McMurtry Stupka and husband Kenneth of Rosenberg, and Kathleen Janette McMurtry Shaffer and husband Mark of Arlington, and four grandchildren, Kenneth Charles Stupka, II, Christopher Andrew Stupka, Todd Robert Shaffer, and Tracy Kathleen Shaffer. Pallbearers will be members of the Marshall Masonic Lodge #22. The family request memorials to the Shrine Hospital in Shreveport, La., or the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Dallas or the Trinity Episcopal Church Building Fund. Downs Funeral Home

Published in The Marshall News Messenger on 10/16/2007.