Death Claims Murl R. McCoy At Afton Home
Murl R. McCoy, 65, well known Afton businessman and photographer passed away at his home Wednesday, December 16 at about 7:30 p.m. of Parkinson's Disease. He had been an invalid with the disease for the past two years.
Mr McCoy was perhaps best known as an excellent photographer and has operated Mack's Studio here for many years. His place of business was on Main Street until just a few years ago when he moved it to his new residence half a block west.
Mr McCoy was born January 21, 1887 at Mendota, Missouri.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in the Afton North Ward chapel under the direction of the Afton South Ward bishopric. A complete obituary will be published next week.
Murl R. McCoy is Buried Saturday With Military Honors
Murl Ray McCoy, oldest son of William McCoy and Mary Catherine Clouse, was born January 21 1887,in Mendota, Missouri. He attended district school and at the age of fourteen went into the mine with his father to help make their living.
He was married December 24, 1911 to Hazel Jairl, deceased, at Menddota, MO. To this union two children were born, Ruby McCoy Dabel and Carl McCoy. In July of 1914 he came to star Valley with his family and took up a homestead in forest Dell south of Smoot.
In 1917 he went into the service of his country and was stationed most of the time at Fort Knox, Kentucky as a gunsmith in the ordnance department.
For several years after the armistice he worked in Kemmerer and Oakley during the winter and on his homestead in the summer. He also spent two years in a photography school in Denver, Colo,
On May 31, 1925 he was married to Isabell Bowles Henderson. To this union, Glenn, Arlynn and Lorna were born.
Murl was an expert in the use of powder and in 1926 contracted the blasting of a rock point on highway 89 in Forest Dell. He met with an accident on this job resulting in a back injury which no doubt let to his serious illness.
In 1927 he set up Mack's Studio in Afton and did very efficient photography work for the people of this valley in the first real studio to be established here. He finally sold his property south of Smoot and a few years later started his new home where his studio is now located.
Murl was a mechanical genius and was very conscientious about anything he tried to do. He built a radio of his won--also a lathe out of scrap iron. His lathe is still very useful to mechanics. He had an inventive mind.
Perhaps one of his greatest leisure time interests was playing checkers--he enjoyed the game and was seldom beaten.
His serious illness began about six years ago when he found he had Parkinson's disease. This ailment gradually destroyed his nervous system causing helplessness for many months before his death Tuesday evening December 16 about 7:30 p.m.
His wife was at his side almost constantly giving aid; he was a very patient sufferer. His sister, Fay, came and helped during the last two months.
He comes from a family of eleven and is survived by his wife, Isabell, his sons, Carl, Glenn, Arlynn, and daughters, Ruby Dabel and Lorna Hall, three stepsons, Warren, Dee and Anthon Henderson and one stepdaughter Elda. He is also survived by the following brothers and sisters; Leon, Kenneth and Don, Mrs S.M. Walker, Mrs Fay Wells, Mrs Lena Hunter and Mrs Donna Butcher.
He also leaves eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild and ten step-grandchildren to mourn his loss.
Those from out of the valley attending the services were: Glenn McCoy, Charleston, S.C., Mr and Mrs James C. Hall, Pleasant Grove, Utah; Mr and Mrs Warren Henderson and family Lago, Idaho; Mr and Mrs Dee Henderson and daughter, Homedale, Idaho; Mr and Mrs S.M. Walker, Centerville, Iowa; Mrs Fay Wells and Mr and Mrs Alex Hunter, Nampa Idaho; Leon McCoy, Boise, Idaho; Mr and Mrs Dean tThornton, Ogden, Utah; Mrs Mitchell Peterson, Nyssa Oregon, Mr and Mrs Russell Sullivan, Arco, Idaho; Mr and Mrs Homer cooper, Bancroft, Idaho; and Mr Frank Snow, Grace, Idaho.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday at 1 p.m. at the North Ward chapel by Bishop H.R. Papworth of the South Ward. Prayer in the home was by Bishop Osborne Low. The program was as follows:
Invocation--Bp Chas H. Peterson; song--"The Old rugged Cross", Don and Mary beth Chadwick; sketch of life--Bp. H.W. Findlay; speaker--Fred Weber, song--"Beyond The Sunset; Blaine Bradshaw; speaker--E. Lavere Johns; song--"Does Jesus Care", Nellie Roberts, Ruby Tolman, Louise Cranney; closing remarks--Bp. H.R. Papworth.
Pall bearers were Carl, Glen and Arlynn McCoy, Warren Dee and Anthon Henderson. burial was in the Afton cemetery. The grave was dedicated by Myron White. Full military honors were rendered by Post No 49 of the American Legion.

McCoy, Murl Ray (16 Dec 1952) (1-4)Star Valley Independent

Murl Ray MCCOY is the son of William Lincoln MCCOY and Mary Catherine "Mollie" CLOUSE
Murl Ray MCCOY married Isabelle BOWLES 31 May 1925 in Oakley, Lincoln, Wy
Hazel Mary Or Mary Hazel JAIRL 24 Dec (div) 1911
in Afton, Lincoln, WY