From the pages of
Sublette Examiner
Volume 7, Number 33 - November 8, 2007
brought to you online by Pinedale Online

Obituaries

Stanley Gordon Murdock

Funeral services for Stan Murdock, 69, will be conducted by Fr. Wes Shields on Friday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m., in the United Church of Christ, Pinedale. Interment will be in the Pinedale Cemetery. Stan died of respiratory complications Nov. 3, 2007, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

The eldest of four siblings, Stan was born April 30, 1938, to Solon and Carrie Jorgensen Murdock. He spent his first six years on the Murdock Ranch, situated on the Green River just a few miles east of Big Piney. On Solon’s death in 1944, Carrie moved her young family to Pinedale to be closer to her parents. Stan graduated from Pinedale High School and attended the University of Wyoming on a track scholarship. He was drafted and served two years in Korea with the U.S. Army, but later completed his degree in civil engineering. Stan returned to the Pinedale area to help his ailing uncle, George Jorgensen, run his ranch.

Stan worked very hard to improve the ranch and the cattle he bought from George, and after George’s death, the ranch name was changed to Murdock Cattle Company.

On June 9, 1973, Stan married Madeleine Scanlan, at St. Andrew’s In the Pines Episcopal Church in Pinedale. Five years later, Scott Gibson Murdock was born and became a source of unending joy.

Through the process of irrigating the ranch, coupled with his engineering studies, Stan became very well versed in state water law. At the time of his death, he was a commissioner for the New Fork Irrigation District and was also a member of the Colorado River Basin Advisory Group.

A history buff, Stan became a member of the Sublette County Historical Society, was a board member and past president of the Mountain Man Museum, and helped direct the annual pageant, the Green River Rendezvous. Stan was a Lifetime Member of the Green River Valley Cattlemen’s Association, a member and a past vice president of Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA). Stan also served as a founding member of both the WSGA Agricultural Land Trust and the Green River Valley Land Trust. He was a past Master of Franklin Lodge #31, A.F. & A. M. and a member of both the Scottish and York Rites.

Stan was known for his steadfast determination, integrity and friendly humor; he never met a stranger – human or animal. He loved helping people, ranching, restoring old cars and airplanes, and gained his pilot’s license in 2003. A horseback accident in May 2006, left this active man a quadriplegic; rather than give in to anger and depression, Stan resolutely determined to be as positive as possible and for the past year and a half, has been an example of courage and inspiration to all who encountered him. He used humor to cheer others and laughter to aid healing.

Survivors include his wife, Madeleine; son, Scott; sisters, Sharon (Richard) Ballinger and Karen Galey; brother, Thomas C. Murdock (Pam); and numerous cousins.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Sublette County Historical Society, the Pinedale Fine Arts Council, The Green River Valley Land Trust, The Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust or Sublette County libraries.

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