Sherman Dale Murray

Sherman Dale Murray, age 76 of Perry, died Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at his home. Viewing will be held on Friday, April 7, 2006 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 8 at 2:00 p.m. at the La Grande Mavericks club house. A private family interment was held at the Grandview Cemetery.

Sherman was born on July 12, 1929, the son of Dallas Packard and Laura Lavina (McInnis) Murray in Newberg, Oregon. As a teenager, Sherman worked for his uncle on a dairy farm in Tillamook and spent some time on ranches in Eastern Oregon. It was during this time that Sherman knew that Eastern Oregon was where he wanted to live. When he got older he worked in the timber industry as a logger and later in a saw mill. In 1946 Sherman married Iona Duncan in Vancouver, Washington. In 1955, he went to work for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and this began his dream of living in Eastern Oregon. He was stationed in the Wenaha district near Troy and continued to work with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for over 30 years. Sherman and Iona later moved to Rhea Creek near Ione where he went into business with his son, Lynn, making saddles. He made well over 50 saddles and chaps that were sold to customers all over the world. After Lynn died, Sherman continued his saddle making when he moved to Perry. Sherman was self taught at many things in life, including sewing. Over the years he made his own western shirts, as well as shirts for many of his friends. He also made one of kind formal dresses for his daughters.

Sherman was a rodeo cowboy for over 60 years where he competed in calf roping, team roping and bull dogging. He participated in the Senior PRCA National Finals in Oklahoma and belonged to the Old Timers roping club, the La Grande Mavericks and Black Powder gun club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, reading and playing the guitar and singing with his son and daughter in music festivals across the country.

Survivors include his children and their spouses, Dayle and Warren Jennings of La Grande, Oregon, Lavina and Stan Greenough of Island City, Oregon, Aline and Tom Yeakley of Payette, Idaho and Nolan and Carole Murray of Birch Bay, Washington; ten grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; brothers Rod Murray of Ione, Oregon and Russell Shook of Sisters, Oregon. His wife, a son Lynn Murray and sisters Laura Haynes, Virginia Coleman and Mildred Walters all preceded him death.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Sherman Murray may be made to the Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice or the charity of choice in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850. To view the obituary, sign the guest book or leave a condolence on-line visit, www.danielschapel.com