Former Slippery Rock native Joseph Edward McPherson died of natural causes on July 28 at his home in Oak Creek, Colo., after a long bout with adult-onset multiple sclerosis. He was 55 years old.

Joe was born Sept. 4, 1956, in Grove City and was the son of Irene Kovach McPherson and James H. McPherson.

An avid hunter and fisherman, Joe moved to the Colorado high country following high school in Slippery Rock, settling in the Steamboat Springs, Colo., area. Joe worked as a contractor for Montana Log Homes of Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Pamela McPherson.

Joe is survived by a son, Jacob Jesse McPherson of Wyoming. He also is survived by three brothers and two sisters, James A. McPherson of Prospect, Patricia (Arnoud) Muirhead of New Hampshire; Susan (Frank) Glavan of Slippery Rock, Tom McPherson of Slippery Rock and Dave McPherson of Steamboat Springs.

MCPHERSON — Joseph Edward McPherson died Saturday, July 28, 2012. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Rock Falls Park, Slippery Rock, with Pastor Joe Barth of Slippery Rock Alliance Church officiating. A celebration of Joe's life was held in Steamboat Springs, Colo., on Sept. 1.