Menzo McMurtrie died of pneumonia following Spanish influenza at 7 o’clock last Sunday morning, having been sick just a week. A brief funeral service was held in front of the house at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon, being conducted by Rev. J. B. Williams, of the Christian church. Menzo McMurtrie was born at Union Grove, Wisconsin, October 16th 1886, and was almost 32 years old when he died. With his parents he moved to Blair when he was a child arriving May 10th?, 1888. He was raised here and here he was married to Miss Jessie Kirk on March 31st,1909. They are the parents of five children, Earl Ethel, Edna, Edith and Menzo. Deceased is survived by one brother, Harley McMurtrie, of Milwaukee, Wis., and two sisters, Mrs. C. F. McComb, of this city and Mrs. C. C. VanDeusen, of Blair township. The following beautiful tribute was paid him by Rev. Mr. Williams at the funeral service: “Mr. McMurtrie endeared himself to many friends by the amiability of his disposition. His was a quiet, steady-going, uniform nature, always mellow and mild, never harsh or severe or ill-natured or unmerciful. In fact his kindness of heart was unusual. In his home he was an affectionate father and a warmhearted husband. Many a tender memory has therefore been bequeathed to those who knew him best. And now his labor and burdens are over with. In the prime of his manhood he lays down the duties of life and turns from its business and its restlessness to face the fortunes and try the realities of the world to come. Life and death have their old, old lessons, solemn these lessons are and momentous. While we are in a state of health may we give careful heed to those old and ever repeated lessons, and live now for the glory of God, the good of others, our own salvation, and then when our time comes, as it will assuredly some day, we can lie down in peace with the light of heaven on our face and the grace of God to cheer our hearts.”

#2-The date and place of the publication of this newspaper obituary was not recorded.

Menzo McMurtrie passed away on Sunday, at 7 o'clock a.m., of pneumonia after an illness of one week.

He was born in Union Grove, Wis., Oct. 16, 1888 and was nearly 32 years old at the time of his demise.

He was married March 31, 1909 to Miss Jessie Kirk, who with five children survive him. The children are Earl, Ethel, Edna, Edith, and Menzo; there is one brother, Harley McMurtrie and two sisters, Mrs. C. E. McComb and Mrs. C. C. Van Deusen.

Funeral service was held at the home at two o'clock Tuesday afternoon by Rev. J. B. Williams, pastor of the Christian Church and the body laid to rest in the Blair Cemetery.

#3-Published in Enterprise on 18 October 1918

Menzo McMurtrie died last Sunday morning at his home in this city following an attack of Spanish influenza which developed a virulent case of pneumonia.

Deceased came when a child, with his parents from Wisconsin, to Blair, some thirty years ago, and had lived here most of the time since. His wife and five children survive. Two sisters, Mrs. C.C. VanDeusen, who lives on a farm west of this city, and Mrs. C.E. McComb, of this city and one brother, Harley, of Milwaukee, Wisc., are other surviving relatives. The funeral service was held at the home on Tuesday, at two o'clock p.m.

~~~ Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~