Obituary of Shirley L. McMurtrey

Shirley L. McMurtrey was born April 10, 1923, in Mountain Home, Idaho, the daughter of Ralph and Leone Johnson Pierce. She attended school in Mountain Home, and was graduated from Mountain Home High School as valedictorian in 1941. She worked in the Elmore County Courthouse in the County Agent’s office and later in the County Recorder’s office, serving as Deputy Auditor and Recorder and Deputy Clerk of the District Court. 

She was married to A. Dale McMurtrey on April 6, 1943, while Dale was serving with the U.S. Navy. They lived in San Francisco where Dale was stationed at Treasure Island, returning to Mountain Home in 1945 and residing there until 1948 when they moved to Boise and Dale went to work for Summers Funeral Home.

She was a member of Boise Chapter No. 65, O.E.S., Kemi Court #55, L.O.S., Social Order of Beauceants, Court #137 and Iras Temple #40, Daughters of the Nile, of which she served on the Iras Guards Drill Team for 15 years and served as queen of the Temple in 1980. She was also a member of John Regan Post #2, American Legion Auxiliary. She was an active member of the University Christian Church. 

Shirley and Dale owned and operated Summers Funeral Home from 1956 to 1988 at which time they sold to three of their employees.

Shirley and Dale were known for their compassion of others and always had room in their home for children who needed a place to live. They assisted many young people with their college education and cared for many elderly people who needed assistance. 

She is survived by her daughter Shirley Anne “Sam", her son Scott Dale; 2 granddaughters Crystal and Misty; 5 great grandsons Kristopher (Keely), Chaz, Cash, Garren, and Caynan; 3 sisters Glenna Tooman, Boise, June Zillisch, Mountain Home, and Mary (Gary) Gill, Bruneau; a special niece Kellee (Judson) Sharples, and nephew, Jim (Maggie) McMurtrey, who made their home with them while attending school, and several other nieces and nephews with whom she was very close. 

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband A. Dale, 2 brothers, Everett and Loren Pierce and 2 sisters Bula Elam and Vera Dowling.

A viewing will be held Friday, December 7th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Summers Funeral Home, 1205 West Bannock Street, Boise. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 8th at 1:00 p.m. at Summers Funeral Home, Boise. As per Shirley and A. Dale's policy, we will begin services at 1:00 p.m. "SHARP," so be early!

Arrangements are by Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel and Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, Mountain Home. Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Fairfax Ave. & Virginia St., Salt Lake City, UT 84103; or Booth Memorial in Boise, Idaho.