John Rolland Murtaugh

John Murtaugh, beloved Husband, Father, Grandpa, Bampa, and Great-Bampa went to be with the Lord surrounded by family after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on August 22, 1920 in Jersey City, NJ and came to Portland with his parents in 1922. John served in WWII in the Navy Seabees 1942-1945 in Africa and Mississippi. In 1943, while on leave from the Navy, John married Betty Walker of Portland. They then spent 2 years in Gulfport, Mississippi and when the war ended, returned to Portland to raise their family. John started his architectural career as an apprentice draftsman with Barrett and Logan, Architects while still in high school. After the war he returned to Barrett and Logan, studied for and passed Oregon State Architects license exam and received his architectural license in 1948. He was made an associate of the firm in 1949. In 1953, following death of Robert Barrett, he became a full partner with Thayne Logan in the firm of Logan and Murtaugh, Architects. The firm was responsible for many buildings in Oregon – the dining hall and several dormitories at U of Portland; Tillamook County Hospital; Oregon School for the Deaf; and numerous other commercial buildings and churches. He was a member of American Institute of Architects, president of Oregon Building Congress, member of City Club, Kiwanis Club, East Side Commercial Club and Rivercrest Community Church. In 1971 he closed the business and spent the last 15 years of his career teaching architectural drafting at Benson High School, teaching in the same room where he had first been a student of architecture many years before.

John and Betty spent many of their summers at their beloved cabin, “The Cricket”, at Camp Creek near Rhododendron. Friends and family have wonderful memories of the times spent together. John spent 15 years of retirement tracing the family genealogy with emphasis in Wales where he and Betty traveled several times to meet nearly 100 cousins.

John is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty, and children, Mary Ann Brewer (Glenn) of Cascade, Idaho; Susan Bradshaw, Portland; Jeffery Murtaugh (Linda) of central Oregon. Grandchildren: Caroline Reese (Brian), Boise, ID; Paul Brewer (Beth), Grovetown, GA; Brian Bradshaw, Portland; Scott Bradshaw (Selena), Portland; Graham Murtaugh (Mandi), Portland; Tate Murtaugh, Corvallis; and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Jane Murtaugh a sister, Dorothy Sauer, and a daughter, Kathleen, died in childhood.

The family will be forever grateful to the staff at Summer Place Assisted Living and Expession Memory Care at Summerplace for their care and compassion in these last months. Graveside interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery, November 8 at 11:00 AM, and a memorial service held at Rivercrest Community Church, at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to Expressions at Summerplace in Portland.