Margaret Murdock

ROOSEVELT — Margaret Murdock, 69, died Oct. 2, from complications related to Alzheimer’s Disease.

Murdock was born May 30, 1939, to Lawrence and Sarah Santio Jenks in Fort Duchesne, Utah. She married Gary "Blackbear" Murdock April 19, 1964, in Elko, Nev. He died Aug. 23, 2008. She worked as a secretary for the Ute Tribe Law Enforcement from 1960 to 1964. She then married her husband Gary, and they moved to Salt Lake City. She worked for 18 years with the Federal Government before retiring due to health reasons. She started with the Indian Health Services as a medical clerk, where she worked from 1973 to 1978. She worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and worked in Land Operations, Social Services, and for the Criminal Investigations Department from 1978 to 1988. She often interpreted the Ute language for the Ute people. She was a very kind and gentle woman who loved her family. She was raised with traditional Ute beliefs, which she taught her children.

She is survived by her sister, Alberta Jenks, Las Vegas, Nev.; her children, Darren Cuch, Indian Bench, DeVonne Murdock Fort Duchesne, Garrick Murdock, Indian Bench, and Brandon (Kimberly) Murdock, Bluebell; stepson Kim (Teann) Murdock; brothers and sisters-in-law, Gwendolyn (Gilbert) Mojado, Pala, Calif.; Benny (Lola) Murdock, King George, Va.; Shirley M. Reed, Fort Duchesne; Ronald S. Murdock, Salt Lake City; Stuart (Rose) Murdock, Redmond, Ore.; and Karnel (Jennie) Murdock, Alterra, Utah; 12 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at Saint Helen Catholic Church, Roosevelt. Burial was in Fort Duchesen Cemetery.