LeRoy C. "Mac" MacMurtrie, 94, formerly of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on November 4, 2024, at Quincy Village in Waynesboro, PA. He is the husband of Grace V. (Reed). They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in June. Theirs is a long love story across the decades.

Born February 11, 1930, in Bethlehem, PA to the late C. LeRoy and Stella (Wack) MacMurtrie, he graduated from Bethlehem High School in Bethlehem, PA, met Grace at Laros Printing in 1951, married in 1953 and raised five children. He was employed at F.E. Weinland Hardware Store for 15 years as a clerk and driver, at Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 15 years as a custodian and security guard until a permanent layoff in the 1980s, and at several other establishments including Rosenberger Dairy, The Bethlehem Club, St. Francis College, Rodale Press, and Groman's Bakery, finally retiring from Submicron Systems in 1997. He provided for his family through a work ethic to always do one's best regardless of the task.

LeRoy loved his church, his family and music. A member of the former St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (built by his grandfather, William Wack) on Locust St. in Bethlehem for 87 years, he served there on church council, as Sunday School superintendent and teacher, sang in the choir for 62 years, and worked as sexton with his wife for 15 years.

A singer all his life, his bass voice anchored the church choir, Bach Choir of Bethlehem (concert in Carnegie Hall in 1956), Cantata Singers of Quakertown, Camerata Singers, and St. Luke's Singers. That musical gift continues on through his children and grandchildren. LeRoy enjoyed crossword puzzles and woodworking of all sorts, from making small wooden crosses for the choir to building/refinishing furniture. He built bookcases, shelving and other improvements at their home of 61 yrs on Locust Street which proved challenging to dismantle after they moved in 2019. He had a keen interest in local and world history and followed current events and politics. He was proud of his Scottish heritage (MacMurtrie Family Motto: Dieu et mon pays; God and my country) and was always at the ready with a good story, a trait he passed to his three sons.

Survivors besides his wife include his children Michael D. (MaryPat) MacMurtrie of Erie, PA; Hope M. Bowling of Harrisburg, PA; Faith M. (Scott Leigh) Zahm of Smithsburg, MD; 14 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by sons, Bruce E. MacMurtrie (2021) and Todd R. MacMurtrie (2017), sisters Mildred Aungst (1998) and Kathryn Freeh Smith (2019), nephew William Remaly (2020) and grandson Todd R. MacMurtrie, Jr (2024).

Memorials may be made to Young People's Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley https://ypplv.org/contribute/) or Lutheran World Relief (https://give.lwr.org/).

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday November 16, in the Pearson Funeral Home, 1901 Linden Street, Bethlehem, followed by interment in Bethlehem Memorial Park, Linden & Dewberry Avenues, Bethlehem, PA. Family and friends may call Saturday from 10:00 am until service time.