Joseph E. McMurrer, 86, a former longtime resident of Haverhill, passed away peacefully at the home of his daughter in Edgewood, Ky., with his family by his side Friday, July 15.
Born March 24, 1930 in Cambridge, son of the late James F. and Mary E. (Sullivan) McMurrer, he was raised in Arlington and graduated from Malden Catholic High School with the class of 1947. McMurrer served in the United States Coast Guard as a damage controlman second class from 1947 until his honorable discharge in 1952 and served aboard the CGC Evergreen and the USCGC Eastwind. He was a recipient of the Good Conduct Award and the Honorable Discharge Button.
McMurrer was employed at Western Electric, AT&T Technologies and Lucent Technologies retiring in July, 1993, after 37 years of service. He enjoyed sailing, boating, ice boating, biking, hiking and cross country skiing in the North Conway, N.H., area.
He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Eleanor G. (Churchill) McMurrer, and is survived by his daughter Elizabeth A. Kozerski and husband, Bruce of Edgewood, Ky.; son, Joseph E. McMurrer Jr. of Fort Meyers, Fla,; grandchildren, Justin McMurrer, Jenna McMurrer, Matthew Kozerski, Adam Kozerski, and Amy Kozerski; brother, John A. McMurrer of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to call Monday, July 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill. His funeral begins Tuesday, 8:45 a.m., from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., in St. John the Baptist Church, 110 Lincoln Ave., Haverhill. Burial will follow in Puritan Lawn Cemetery, Peabody.