Obituary of Carl Hewes McMurtry

Carl Hewes McMurtry died suddenly and unexpectedly in his home in Youngstown NY on Nov 23, 2014. He will be missed greatly by his family and friends. His life will be celebrated at a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church in Lewiston, NY on Dec 13, 2014 at 3:00 PM, with reception following the service. Carl was born in Wellsville NY on December 6, 1931 the son of Walter Rice McMurtry Sr. and Edna McMurtry (Hewes). He attended local schools in Wellsville and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Carl went on to Alfred University where he received Bachelors and Masters Degrees in ceramic engineering. Carl married Virginia L. Downing on June 11, 1955 and they lived in Youngstown since 1973. Ginny died in June, 2014 after a long illness. Carl initially worked as a chemist for Sinclair Petroleum near Wellsville and in 1958 moved to Niagara Falls NY to take a position developing advanced ceramic materials for the Carborundum Company. Carborundum eventually became a unit of British Petroleum and he retired from that company in 1992 as Senior Scientist. Through his work with the company he was awarded several US and international patents. Carl was a lifelong outdoorsman and sportsman; fishing, hunting, sailing and bird watching were among his many interests. He was a skilled marksman and enjoyed competing at pistol and skeet matches. He took his family camping throughout NY and New England and several of the western states. Carl was an active member of many organizations including the 3F Conservation Club, Ducks Unlimited, Niagara River Anglers and the Youngstown Yacht Club. Carl was also a skilled craftsman and spent many hours in his shop working on many projects; later in life he developed a passion for wood carving and he created many remarkable bird and fish carvings, some earning awards at local exhibitions. Playing bridge was favorite pastime of Carl's throughout his adult life and in his later years he enjoyed playing in contract bridge tournaments, achieving master level in his region. Carl's love of travel and desire for new experiences took him literally all over the world. In addition to extensive business travel, Carl found himself in fishing, hunting and birding hotspots in the company of friends and family. He is survived by his children, Paul H. McMurtry; Karen A. McMurtry; Amy L. Langlois and her husband Francis X. Langlois; his grandchildren Nathalie, Marc, Dylan and Molly; his brothers Walter McMurtry Jr. of Henrietta, NY and Everett McMurtry of Winchester, VA; his nieces and nephews; and the rest of his family and friends. Carl is preceded in death by his sister Beth Flammer and his wife Virginia. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Ducks Unlimited or to The Nature Conservancy. Arrangements have been entrusted to HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, N. Fourth & Ridge Sts., Lewiston