Allen Murdock

J Allen Murdock passed away in the early morning of September 20, 2017. He was 92 years old. “Al” was born February 15, 1925, in Minersville, Utah to Hallie and Edmund Murdock. He was the second of three boys and two girls born into the Murdock home.

In his younger years, Al attended elementary and high school in Cedar City, Utah, but in 1941, at the age of 16, he left school early and headed north to take a job working at Ogden Air Depot (Hill Air Force Base) in Ogden, Utah as a Junior Aircraft Painter. At the age of 18, Al enlisted in the Army Air Force and was later deployed to the Asiatic Pacific Theater where he was a construction machine operator during World War II. Al was very proud of his military service and would regularly regale his family and friends with stories of serving in India and later in China. After leaving the military in 1946, Al attended Weber College and later the University of Utah where he graduated with a degree in Architecture.

In 1948, Al married Marion Grant who was his loving companion until her death in July of 2015. Al and Marion had two boys, Michael and Kelly, and enjoyed their early married years living and working in Cedar City, Utah. After five wonderful years in Cedar, Al and his family moved to Salt Lake City where he spent his professional career working as an architect for a variety of local firms.

While architecture was his professional pursuit, his true love was found among his flowers, fruits and vegetables of his beloved gardens and yards. Al simply loved working in his yard, and his long hours devoted there paid dividends of great beauty and bounty.

Al was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, despite several years of self-imposed estrangement, had a strong belief in the Gospel and of the Plan of Salvation.

Al is survived by his son, Kelly (Elise); three beloved grandchildren and one great-grandchild; siblings Reed (Carol) and Lorraine Murdock Wood. Preceded in death by his wife, Marion (7/2015), and his son, Michael (8/1981). A graveside service will be held Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. where he will be interred at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Cottonwood Place for their loving attention and care of Al over the past several months as well as the nurses at Brighton Home Heath and Hospice. For online condolences please visit www.wasatchlawn.com