Ray Lynn Murdock

To view the funeral for Rick Murdock follow the following link https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/69505 Ray “Rick” Lynn Murdock (78) passed away peacefully at his home in Rexburg, Idaho on Friday, February 11, 2022. Ray was born to George Alma Murdock and Letha Anderson on September 19th, 1943 at the Rexburg Maternity Home in Rexburg, Idaho. Ray’s early years were spent raising sheep and milking cows at his family’s farm in Driggs, Idaho. At 17 years of age, Ray joined the Army National Guard, along with his brother, Bob Murdock. He participated in wheeled vehicle training at Fort Ord in California. Later he was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington to attend Army Cook school. After receiving an honorable discharge form the Army, Ray went on to attend school at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho where he studied business and electrical work. He also enjoyed attending LDS Institute classes and participating in Toastmasters during this time. Ray was always hard working and dedicated to his jobs. He worked several jobs throughout his life, including facility maintenance at FMC in Pocatello, mining in Wyoming, and wiring homes for Boise Cascade, before finally landing his dream job as a maintenance electrician at the Idaho National Laboratory. He would continue working there until his retirement at the age of 55. After retiring, Ray found work as a driver for Avis car rental, transporting cars between rental sites. He was always the first to respond to any call, day or night and thoroughly enjoyed traveling throughout the western United States and the friends he met on the way. After retirement, Ray’s work became his hobbies as he continued to teach and provide electrical repairs to anyone who would ask. In his last years his favorite past time was to go on car rides in the country. Ray lived almost all his life in Idaho and had a love for the state. He frequently was heard to say that “When the good Lord created the Earth, he rested on the seventh day in Idaho”. In 1980 Ray was urged by his boss to use his many accrued vacation days to take a vacation. In June, he bought a plane ticket to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was during this trip that he met the love of his life, Betty Estrella Morel, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. They were married in Spartanburg, South Carolina on November 22, 1980. They moved to his home in Idaho Falls, and then later to Shelley, and finally to a home in Idaho Falls, Idaho where they raised four children together, until Betty’s death in 1991. Following Betty’s death, Ray moved to Pocatello, and later back to Idaho Falls, Idaho. Ray continued to be a devoted single father, and later, grandfather to nine grandchildren. Ray was always proud of his children for their accomplishments and would often be heard bragging about them to anyone who would listen. He took pride in being able to provide for his family and spent as much time as he could with his three sons: Andy, Kenny, and Mike, and his daughter, Melissa. He also loved his grandchildren and was never happier than when there was a baby on his knee. Ray was ordained a High Priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many church callings throughout his life. His faith in the Lord and His promises carried him through many of the trials in his life, including losing his wife and son. Ray was a storyteller and loved to embellish the truth to make his stories more colorful. He was generous with his time and resources. He was quick to notice the needs of those around him and was always willing to give to anyone who needed his help. He was a devoted friend, brother, uncle, son, father, and grandfather and will be dearly missed. Ray is survived by his two sons, Andy (Perla) Murdock and Kennett (Kristen) Murdock; his daughter, Melissa (Freddy) Garcia; his sister, Gail (Boyde) Knight; his brother, Robert “Bob” (Linda) Murdock; his five grandsons, Colin Murdock, Brendan Murdock, Griffin Murdock, Bowen Hamilton, and Gavin Hamilton; his four granddaughters, Sierra Murdock Frost, Rayne Murdock, Claire Murdock, and Olivia Murdock. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Letha Murdock; wife Betty Murdock; son Michael Murdock; brother, Terry Bruce Murdock, sister, Marsha VanTries, and brother-in-law Robert “Bob” VanTries Services will be held Wednesday, February 16th at 11:00 AM at Eckersell Funeral Home (101 W Main St., Rigby, Idaho). A visitation will be held prior to service from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM, and the night before on Tuesday, February 15th from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at Eckersell Funeral Home. The graveside services, military rites, and interment at Fielding Memorial Cemetery (Idaho Falls, Idaho).