Arthur K. Murdock Jr.

Arthur K. Murdock, Jr.

Arthur Kenneth Murdock, Jr., passed away peacefully in Monroe, WA on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 surrounded by his family.
Born September 17, 1924 in Lake Stevens, WA to Arthur K. and Amy F. Murdock, he was a lifelong resident of the Monroe area.
After graduating from Monroe Union High School in 1943, Art enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater. There, he saw plenty of action on Iwo Jima and Saipan, culminating in the receipt of a purple heart. Through his service experience, Art met many lifelong friends with whom he remained very close for the rest of his life. He eagerly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed camaraderie with his Marine Corps brothers at annual reunions around the country for nearly thirty years.
After the war, Art returned to Monroe and married his life partner, Jacqueline Bennett, in 1946. At that time, he entered the grocery business, working first for Herb Schwartz at the old Price-Rite, located then on the Northwest corner of Main and Lewis. Later, he worked for Larry Nasman at his store on East Main Street, eventually buying him out. After a number of years of successful business ownership, Art anticipated the movement of Monroe's commerce out to Highway 2, and consequently sold the store.
During his years as a business owner in Monroe, Art was also very active as a member of what was then the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department, eventually serving as captain. Many merchants and others from those days remember Art and his butcher partners, Irving and Bob Scharf, responding to a fire call, running down Main Street toward the fire department (now Speedy Auto-Glass), fire whistle blaring, aprons flapping in the breeze!
After selling his grocery store, Art went to work for the Washington State Liquor Control Board, eventually managing the Snohomish store. He remained a part-time employee of the liquor board for many years.
In addition to being a loving husband and father, Art will be remembered by those who knew him as a good and loyal friend. He was a wonderful conversationalist, genuinely interested in everyone he met. Art would engage with anyone; indeed, his family would often be amused and amazed when he either ran into people he knew --- or would make new friends --- literally everywhere!
Art was predeceased by his wife, Jackie, in 2002, and by his great-granddaughter, Sara Ruth, in 2009.
He is survived by his son, Bruce, of Monroe; his daughter, Jody, of Lake Stevens; and by his three grandchildren, Sonny Stewart of Duvall, WA, Stephen Murdock of Spokane, WA and Beth Murdock of Bozeman, MT.
At his request, there will be no services.