Donald Milton Murdoch

Don was born June 10, 1933, in Cherokee OK, to Gladys (Burkey) and Donald Alexander Murdoch.  

The family moved to Grand Junction, CO for a year when Don was in 5^th grade.  Then they moved to Long Beach, CA where Don was until he was a senior in High School when they moved back to Grand Junction, CO where he graduated with the Class of 1951.

Don worked at Burkey Lumber in Montrose, CO and Grand Junction, CO.  He married MaryAnn Tipton in June 1952, and they moved to Rifle, CO where he worked at Burkey Lumber.  They had a son, Tom and when Tom was six months old, they moved to Long Beach, CA.   Don worked for Shell Chemical and later sold vehicles.  

After his divorce in 1967, he moved to Delta, CO where he worked at Burkey Sawmill.  He and Barbara Ann Nichols Byrd had a blind date on April 15, 1967, and were married in August 1968, in Las Vegas, NV.  They spent the last 56 years together.  They have a son, Eric.

After the sawmill closed, Don did several jobs until he bought South Main Auto with Bo Smith and later partnered with Mike Kramer, until his retirement in 1993.  

Don and Barbara traveled in their RV for nine years.  In 2002 they went to Alaska which was the last state to visit for Don, except Hawaii.  They had lots of fun off roading in the jeep and many NASCAR races made a super life.   He was in a nursing home in Montrose and then Grand Junction since March 2023.

Don was preceded to heaven by his parents and two grandsons.   He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his son’s Tom and Eric; and one granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Hope West Hospice 195 Stafford Lane Delta, CO 81416 or Eckert Presbyterian Church PO Box 7 Eckert, CO 81418.