John Carter McLurg

February 26,1943 - October 07, 2023

Buckeye, Arizona - John C. McLurg was born in High River Alberta Canada and moved with his parents, Robert Earnest McLurg and Erla Noreen McLurg, to Oregon at the age of five. John attended Corvallis Public Schools and graduated from Oregon State University. He met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth Howser, on a blind date to the Oregon coast in 1963. By the end of the day, a friendship inspired by shared laughter and deep conversation, was born.

John and Mary were married in Salem Oregon in 1966 at her family church. Their first home with a wall of windows overlooking Croisan Creek was “accidentally” purchased by Mary while shopping for antique chairs for less than twelve thousand dollars- far less than the price of a car today! John began his career with the State of Oregon as a Social Worker and Mary taught second grade at Grant Elementary School. Weekends were spent backpacking and hiking in the Cascades and tent camping at the beach and Big Lake.

On a beautiful May Day in 1973, shortly after building a spacious new home in West Salem, their daughter, Jennifer Jill was born. Some smart fellow remarked that camping with a new born was “easy peasy” since toddlers had a way of soaking up the forest duff and lakeside mud so the weekend camping trips continued in earnest. One happy day our family of three was walking hand in hand down our country lane and Jennie had her free hand stretched out beside her. John asked “What’s that for?” Jennifer replied, “I”m saving that hand for my sister Sally!” And in 1977, Sally Anne was born, completing the family.

In 1979, a beautiful property along the Little North Fork of the Santiam River was purchased jointly with Bill and Jennie Howser, Mary’s parents. Weekends were spent building the two story cabin while the girls explored the forested hillsides and snorkeled happily in the clear warm water. Experiencing life on the river was magical for everyone and the cabin became a gathering place even after both daughters were married and had families of their own. Jennifer married Mark Madland, a classmate at South Salem High School and Sally met her future husband, Kevin Desouza, in Seattle. John and Mia, the Madland children, spent countless hours in the river under blue summer skies.

John retired as an Administrative Assistant in 1997 and almost immediately purchased a 26’ long MacGregor sailboat and a 1973 Case backhoe. The “digger” was put to work at the cabin property carving out ground for an ambitious remodel and addition of the family cabin. The couple worked from “can see to can’t see” for the next ten years creating the house of their dreams with soaring ceilings, skylights, and balconies overlooking the pristine river.

Panning for gold along the Little North Fork became a favorite pastime. Tiny flakes of gold were collected in a pill container and it was always fun for John to to add to his retirement “treasure”. John and Mary went on several outings with the local mining club, learning from experienced miners.

John was always happiest on the water. Sailing on Detroit Reservoir or a high mountain lake in the fresh air and sunshine was uplifting and exhilarating. Mooring in a quiet cove and watching the stars come out one by one was always a perfect ending to the day. There was a particular sandy crescent of shoreline on Big Lake where we could overnight with the faint sounds of youth singing praise songs as the moon rose….steaks on the grill, a glass of wine and lightning flashing over a distant peak. Mornings on the sailboat in Blowout Cove were alive with the trills of Swainson’s Thrushes and one morning a Sheriff’s Patrol officer joined us for a freshly caught Kokanee trout breakfast.

Some people sail for adventure and others to see new places. Some sail to feel close to nature - it is like a balm to the soul. The bonds made with people we sail with can be very strong, and in our case, resulted in a lifelong friendship with our travel buddies, Corinne and Dennis Pearson. We met this agreeable couple during our hiking club outings and continued our friendship doing bareboat charters in Greece, the Abacos and British Virgin Islands. A luxurious Windstar Cruise out of Barbados allowed us to visit small ports and experience the island lifestyle. We took turns preparing dinners at each others’ homes and made sure there was a new Wysocki puzzle on the table for the girls and the Billiards table ready for the guys.

Rain was streaming down the art studio windows one late fall day when John decided the time was right for seeking some sunshine. Their T@B teardrop camper was packed up along with their little dog, Mele, and the couple headed south, stopping to explore adult communities along the way. They found the “endless summer” that they were they were hoping for at Festival Ranch in Arizona. For the next nine years, they snowbirded between idyllic Oregon summers swimming in the river and the enormous palm tree lined pool complete with waterfall in Arizona.

In 2019, their beloved Riverwood was sold to an Arizona artist the same week a former model home on a lake in their Arizona community was offered for sale and ownership became a reality. The year of Covid at their new home became a year of artistic endeavor. A “Mexican” inspired courtyard was created with a tiled koi pond and colorful planter bed. Travertine patios were extended to accommodate a fire pit and spa overlooking the lake. Multiple wall shelves in the new game room soon filled with John’s framed artwork. As president of the community Fine Art Club, he promoted digital art and encouraged hesitant seniors to give it a try.

John loved his Lord and the Lord loved John. While browsing antiques at the Stayton House, John made eye contact with a small white puppy behind a child gate off the kitchen. He had heard the Lord say to him over the past months to “Buy Mary a Dog” but he’d kept that a secret from her because his family’s experience with a dog had been less than happy. The puppy looked back intently at John and he heard the words as clear as day, “I’m the dog”. He plucked the pup up from behind the gate, pulled out his wallet and paid for the dog in the blink of an eye. Mele, the dog he never wanted became his constant companion and a joy beyond measure for the next seventeen years.

Me and my friend Jesus”, a simple line taken from a church play from our tiny community church in Mehama, inspired and delighted him. God was his refuge and guide. John told many stories about being in a tough situation, asking for “his friend Jesus’s help” and solving the problem. So many things we have experienced in life could not have happened without divine intervention. God’s blessings never end with just us. Blessings flow out to others as a part of His plan. I think of the stash of devotionals that John kept in his bedside table to be passed along to others he met along the way.

Two years ago, when he was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis and underwent two separate 100 day treatment programs for stem cell transplants of the bone marrow, he chose Matthew 6:14 as his words to live by. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” and he chose to live fully, one day at a time until his death at the Lund Home, Hospice of the Valley in Gilbert. His family lives even now in the shelter of his protection and kindnesses. He is and always will be a blessing in our lives.

John is survived by his wife, Mary, of fifty seven years, his daughter Jennifer and her husband, Mark Madland and their two children, John and Mia ( Salem, Oregon) as well as his daughter Sally and her husband, Kevin Desouza ( Brisbane, Australia ). His ashes will be placed in the Little North Fork of the Santiam River as he requested. John wanted to have “one last swim” in the river and one more chance to find a gold nugget!

A memorial service will be held privately in Salem, OR. His ashes will be placed in the Little North Fork of the Santiam as he requested.