DAVID C GROSS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER - Key Persons

Edson Walter Murray, of Treasure Island, FL, passed away on November 2, 2023, at the age of 99. He was born on February 26, 1924, in Sullivan, Indiana, and later resided in Rensselaer, Indiana, Elk Rapids, Michigan, and Treasure Island, Florida. Edson served his country with honor and distinction, enlisting in the United States Navy in 1942 as an Electronics Technician. He served with the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 11th fleets, both in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, primarily on the USS Dashiell and other destroyers. Edson was awarded five campaign ribbons and two battle stars for his service in Okinawa and the Philippines. After his military service, Edson embarked on a successful career. He worked in industry for ten years before establishing his own company, Edson W. Murray & Associates, with offices in Chicago and Rensselaer. He also served as the President of Murrays Inc., an Actuarial service, specializing in executive compensation. Edson was a respected member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Certified Life Underwriters, American Society of Pension Actuaries, International Association of Financial Planners, National Association of Life Underwriters, Society of Financial Service Professionals, and Society of Pension Actuaries. Edson was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was married to Janice Sage Murray from 1949 until her passing in 1984. He later married Gloria Kurrack Murray in 1993, making their lives together for 30 years until his death. Edson is survived by his spouse Gloria Murray, his children Ann Murray (Mike Hurtubise), and Marcia Hall (Tom), stepchildren Tom Kurrack (Angie), Kim Johnson (Jeff), Jason Kurrack (Brenda), and Craig Kurrack (Julie), as well as his grandchildren Spencer Hall (Anja), Trevor Hall, step-grandchildren Noah Kurrack (Fabiola), Josh Kurrack, Lilly Kurrack, Ainsley Kurrack, Connor Kurrack, Beth Massey (Marshall), and Sean Hurtubise (Jessie). He was preceded in death by his parents Gerald and Nelle Murray and his sibling Tom Murray (Sue). Edson was a man of many accomplishments and interests. He graduated from Rensselaer High School in 1942, and Culver Military Academy, Naval Summer School in the same year. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1949, with additional coursework at Purdue and DePaul universities. Outside of his work, Edson enjoyed various hobbies and received numerous accolades for his contributions to the community. Edson was very involved with Rotary International, a service organization, having served as a past president of the Rensselaer I Rotary Club as well as District Governor for Northern Indiana. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and particularly proud of having achieved over 50 years of perfect attendance with Rotary. He was also past president of the Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce. A proud member of his college fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, Edson went on to be president of Alpha Delta Phi International. In Florida, Edson was a past member of the Pass-a-grille and St. Pete Yacht Clubs and the Power Squadron. He served twice on the Key Capri Condo Association Board. Professionally, he was honored with the National Quality Award thirteen times and received the State of Indiana Governor's Voluntary Action Program Community Service Award, the President's Award by Jasper County Industrial Foundation, and was a St. Joseph's College Father Gross Fellow. Recent honors include his 70-year certificate from Masonic Scottish Rite of Indiana. Edson was also recognized as the 2005 RCHS Outstanding Alumnus and served as the Grand Marshal of Little Cousin Jasper Day. Edson found solace and community in his faith. He worshiped at First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg, FL, First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids, MI, and First Presbyterian Church of Rensselaer IN. He was an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church and served on numerous committees at the church, presbytery and synod levels. A visitation will take place Friday, November 10th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Anderson McQueen Funeral Home, 2201 MLK Street North in St. Petersburg, FL. A celebration of Edson's life will be held on Saturday, November 11 at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg, 701 N Beach Drive. A graveside service will be held on a future date in Rensselaer, IN. Edson Walter Murray will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. His legacy of dedication, service, and love will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.

Mel Sembler, a pillar in our nation and community, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loving family on October 31. He was the founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Sembler Company, one of the country's most recognized shopping center development firms. His work as a civic and political activist is equally noteworthy. Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, May 10, 1930, the youngest of four children, Melattended Northwestern University where he received a Bachelor of Science in communications in 1952.It was at Northwestern that Mel met the love of his life, Betty Schlesinger. After graduation Mel joined the U.S. Army and served at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Married in 1953, the Semblers moved to Betty's hometown of Dyersburg, Tennessee, after a brief interval in Hollywood where Mel tried his hand in the entertainment world. It was in Dyersburg that he started his career in the real estate business and built his first shopping center. Other shopping centers in Tennessee followed and Mel was on his way. In 1968 Mel and his family, consisting of Betty and their three sons, moved to St. Petersburg. Mel had taken the position of president of Wagon Ho, a fast food restaurant concept. He moved the company headquarters to St. Petersburg, but within a few years he left Wagon Ho to start his real estate business and once again began building shopping centers. In 1986, Mel took a leadership role in the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) when he was elected to a two-year term as chairman of that large and prestigious business association. As chairman, Mel traveled the world with Betty at his side giving speeches and promoting the shopping center industry.It was at that time that Mel met Nancy Reagan and discussed with her the drug treatment program he and Betty had founded in St. Petersburg. Thus began the Semblers' life-long activism in the national anti-drug movement. Mel and Betty would eventually go on to found Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., a drug prevention and policy organization. Through their tireless efforts, countless lives were saved and families were kept whole. Mel's journey into politics began when George H.W. Bush first ran for president in 1979. It started with a request from the campaign to lease space at a Sembler center. As Mel learned more about Bush and his platform he became involved in the campaign and the Republican party, hosting fundraisers and promoting the platform. This forged a lifetime friendship between the Semblers and the Bushes. After his election, President George H.W. Bushappointed Mel as United States Ambassador to Australia and Nauru. He held that post from 1989 to 1993, after which he returned to the U.S. where he served as Florida's RNC National Committeeman and then Finance Chairman of the Republic Party of Florida and later Finance Chairman for the Republican National Committee. Mel's efforts spanned across political generations. After George W. Bush was elected President in 2000, he asked Mel to serve as United States Ambassador to Italy. From 2001 to 2005 Mel and Betty lived in Rome and traveled throughout Italy serving as the President's personal representative. Politically and personally, the security of the State of Israel and its alliance and friendship with the United States was of critical importance to Mel; he felt it his duty to build as many political bridges as possible. He brought Republican candidates and future Republican presidents to Israel so they could get a better understanding of the nation, its people, its leaders, the daily threats it faced, and its strategic importance to the United States. Mel Sembler was a success in business and in politics, but the role he cherished the most was husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His greatest joy was being joined by his sons in The Sembler Company and then welcoming the next generation in the business. He also cherished his friends, establishing relationships with people from all walks of life, locally and around the world. His only criterion was, "Are you a good person, and are you good to others?" If you worked for or with him, it did not matter; he only thought of you as a friend. Power, title or money never meant anything to him when it came to true friendship. The poet Rudyard Kipling's expression,"If you can walk with kings nor lose the common touch, then you'll be a man, my son," describes the essence of Mel Sembler. Mel was predeceased by his wife Betty and his sister, Norma Lee and brother Eugene. He is survived by his sister Delores (Dodie) Krakower, of Houston, Texas; his sons Steve,

Job Titles:

• Administrator for the Boy Scouts of America

William W. Hutchinson, Jr. (Hutch) passed away peacefully on December 29,2023 at St. Anthonys Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bill was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on July 13, 1943. He is preceded in death by his parents William Hutchinson Sr, and Elizabeth (Jarbeck) Hutchinson. He is survived by his loving wife, Lissa. Sons: Bill and Matthew of Sebring, FL and Spencer of Canonsburg, PA, as well as granddaughters, Noelle and Zoey and one great granddaughter, Elyana. His siblings include: Paul, Carol, Joann, Suzanne. Bill founded Timberline Packaging Company to manufacture corrugated boxes in Western Pennsylvania in 1985. In 1987 Timberline was merged into Box USA where he served as Chief Operating Officer. Bill was instrumental in building Box USA to become the Largest Independent Corrugated Box Company in North America, before it was sold to International Paper Company in 2004.He continued in the industry, serving as a Senior Executive at U.S. Corrugated formed in 2006, which again grew to be the largest U.S. Independent Box Company. Bill loved walking on the beach and enjoyed his retirement in Florida. He loved to travel; his favorite places were the Amalfi Coast in Italy and Foxy's at Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. He will be sadly missed by all that knew him. A Memorial service for Bill will be planned in the near future.