MAC, ERNEST LAVERNE MCMURTRY was born October 26, 1930, in Craig, Nebraska to Ernest Leroy and Clara Alice (Miller) McMurtry.  He died Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at University Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 77 years.

Mac graduated from Craig High School in 1948.  He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1949 where he was a B29 mechanic and gunner during the Korean War. Later he was shop chief and ended his twenty-year career in missile guidance.

In 1954, he married Joan O’Hern, and to this union eight children were born: Linda, Cam, Kathy, David, Mike, Debby, Janet, and Patrick.  They were divorced in 1971.

He married Catherine Crane Fishman in 1971.  In 1972, he adopted her son, Geoff Fishman, and she adopted his five daughters.  To this union three children were born: Kerry, Megan, and Deirdre.

In the early 70’s, Mac became a Christian and both became members of the First Baptist Church in Oakland where Mac and 2 children were baptized.     

 
Mac graduated from Wayne State College in April 1975 with BS degrees in Earth Science in Industrial Arts.  He taught science at Guardian Angels and Pebble Valley schools at West Point, and science and Industrial Arts at Bancroft-Rosalie while working on his Masters degree.  He then drove truck for Swine Service Specialists of Lyons before retiring.  He later renewed his teaching certificate and substituted in area schools especially in Macy, Omaha Nation until his death. 

He was a member of the Evangelical Free Church of Oakland where he worked with AWANA, was on the Mission Committee, and made mission trips. Also he was a member of VFW Post #5543. He enjoyed cooking, reading, coin collecting and the outdoors.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, stepmother: Ann Persinger, brothers: Lonnie and Mike, and son: Patrick.

He is survived by his wife: Catherine; stepdaughter: Vicki Cutcher of Pleasant Hill, California; daughters: Linda Levy of Fairbanks, Alaska; Cam Kuchler of Indianapolis, Indiana; Kathy (Robert) Fore of Navarre, Florida; Debby (Jerry) Dodd of Greenfield, Indiana; Janet (Sly)  Bericic of Willoughby, Ohio; Megan of Nashville, Tennessee; Deirdre of Columbus, Ohio; sons: David and Mike of Portland, Oregon; Geoff of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Kerry of Omaha; thirteen grandchildren:  Gage, Bryce, Sarah, Rachael, Tonya, Charles, Patrick, Patrick, Jamie, Angel, Kevin, Tiffany, and Amber; four great-grandchildren: BJ, Haley, James, and Michael; sisters: Doris (Allan) Merriman of Omaha,  Mary Livengood of Boise, Idaho; brothers: Tom (Cory)  of Mannford, Oklahoma; Pat (Lola) of Boise, Idaho and Dan (Rhonda) of Blair. 

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Monday, October 6, 2008, 2:00 p.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Oakland, Nebraska.

BURIAL: Craig Cemetery, Craig, Nebraska with Military Honors by the Ryan VFW Post No. 5543 and American Legion Post No. 46.

MEMORIAL GATHERING: Sunday, October 5, 2008, with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8 at the Evangelical Free Church in Oakland.

MEMORIALS: Compassion International, Evangelical Free Church of american Touch Global and the Evangelical Free Church in Oakland.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelanfuneralservices@hotmail.com