Murray Sylvester Underwood

September 25, 1921 — November 5, 2009

Murray Sylvester Underwood was born on September 25, 1921, in Clay County, to Alford Underwood and Henriette Beck Underwood. He attended high school in Peterson, Iowa, and attended college at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. His service in the ROTC program led him to serve in the US Navy beginning in 1942. He served on the destroyer, the USS Evans, in the Pacific. He was discharged with honors after the war and returned to the University of Iowa to obtain his law degree. He moved to Spencer in 1948 to practice law. His practice grew and became Underwood and Cooksey. He married Ina Faye Kruse of George, Iowa, on June 15, 1953. Later in his law career he served as Clay County Attorney. Murray was appointed as an Iowa District Court Judge in 1968, serving the 3rd District, including the counties of Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Ida, Lyon, Kossuth, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury. He retired in 1985 and for several years continued to serve the 3rd District on a part time basis. He was a member of the First Congregational Church and served on numerous church boards and committees. He was very active in community leadership, serving on the Spencer Hospital Foundation Board, and also as a member of Golden K, Spencer Rotary, the Spencer Area Shrine Club, and the Abu Bekr Shrine in Sioux City. He was a 50-year member of Evening Shade Masonic Lodge 312 of Spencer. He was involved in the early development of the Spencer YWCA/YMCA, as well as being a supporter of many other community projects, causes and events. He was also a long time member of the Iowa State Bar Association. He immensely enjoyed traveling, reading, fishing trips, golf, and time for coffee with his friends, and particularly, Iowa Hawkeye football. Murray passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Phyllis Underwood Peck, and brother Geoffrey Underwood. Left to cherish his memory includes his wife Ina Faye Underwood of Spencer, and brother David of Coral Gables, Fla., and many friends and relatives.

SERVICES

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 9, 2009 at the First Congregational Church in Spencer.

OFFICIATING

Rev. Thomas Van Tassell Rev. Wendy Van Tassell

CASKET BEARERS

Birney Terrell - Chuck Swanson Steve Swanson - Dave Brugman Dean Saunders - Jim Reed

VISITATION

Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, November 8 with the family present from 3-5:00 p.m. at Warner Funeral Home in Spencer.

MUSIC

'The Lord's Prayer' 'How Great Thou Art' by Rev. Wendy Van Tassell Congregational Hymns 'Amazing Grace' 'Precious Lord, Take My Hand' Organist Christi Gabhart

INTERMENT

Interment will take place 1:30 p.m., Monday following the lunch at the church at Oakland Cemetery, Peterson, Iowa

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