Ira Marion Smyrl Jr., 76, of La Porte, Ind., passed away Saturday, September 20, 2008, in La Porte.
A Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with Rev. Anthony Clavier and Bishop Right Rev. Edward S. Little. A time of visitation will be on Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cutler Funeral Home with an Eastern Star service at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Masonic Memorial service at 7 p.m. There will be visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place in Pine Lake Cemetery with military honors.
Ira was born January 26, 1932, in Bullard, Texas to Ira M. and Rena (Jones) Smyrl Sr.
Ira was a loving Husband to his wife, Laura Ann. He was married October 21, 1961 in La Porte to Laura Ann Rickes who survives. Also surviving are a brother-in-law, Louis Curl of Portage, Ind., and a nephew, Bruce Curl of Valparaiso and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Mary Curl and Billie Burns.
He retired from Whirlpool Corporation as a systems analyst and worked at Associates Investment Corporation in South Bend. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church where he served as senior warden. Ira was a 50 year member of Excelsior Lodge 41 F. & A.M. and was Past Worshipful Master; member of Past Masters Unit Orak Shrine Temple AAONMS, Worthy Patron of Order of Eastern Star 280; Past Grand Patron of Indiana Eastern Star; President Masonic Temple Association; Past General Grand Committee Member of Indiana; York Rite of La Porte 15 R.A.M.; La Porte Council 32 of Cryptic Masons; La Porte Commandery 12 K.T. of La Porte; League of United Latin American Citizens Council 5006; Shriners of North America 311 of Michigan City; Knights of York Cross of Honor; York Rite College 55; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of South Bend, Ind.; The Royal Order of Scotland; Past president Rotary Club of La Porte and was a Paul Harris Fellow; Elks Lodge 432 of Michigan City and served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte, IN 46350 or American Cancer Society for Cancer Research.