Snelling, Jr., Murdock M.
5/16/2007
MURDOCK M. SNELLING, JR.
OCTOBER 21, 1926 – MAY 16, 2007
For 80 years, Murdock M. Snelling, Jr., lived a life of service to God, Country, family, the City of Monroe and his fellow man. He is survived by Charlene Turner Snelling, his wife of 53 years, and his children, Renee Kerr, Denise Hull, and Allen Snelling.
Murdock grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi, the son of Dr. Murdock and Isabelle Snelling and the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. John Snelling, who served the Louisiana Conference from 1908 to 1965. In World War II, he was a paratrooper preparing for airborne assault on Japan, which was circumvented by their surrender. He was a Golden Glove Boxer in the Army and later served as an officer in the Korean conflict and as Major in the reserves.
Murdock graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was a founder of the Tulane Engineering Society and was active throughout his career. He achieved licensing as a Mechanical Engineer through self study. In individual and corporate practice, he was an accomplished innovator in structural design. Murdock served the City of Monroe as City Engineer for sixteen years. His work in the City’s project planning process and flood control benefits the citizens of Monroe today.
Murdock was a founder of Christian Community Ministries in Monroe and deeply cared for the city’s homeless. He selflessly gave of his time and modest resources to fulfill God’s charge to “feed my sheep.” Upon retirement from the City of Monroe, Murdock became a local pastor in the Louisiana Conference and served as pastor of Baskin and Oak Ridge and associate pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Churches in the Monroe District. In 2001, he edited a narrative of the ministry of Jesus Christ based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John which was titled The Resurrection and the Life.
Throughout the lives of children, Murdock taught by word and example to love one another and to seek to do God’s will in their lives.
Allen Snelling
Source: Louisiana Conference Journal, 2007; p. 264.
