Dear Family

Dear Family April 23, 2010


I’m sending you this note a little early this month due to my up coming departure for Hawaii. Up to this point most of the month has been spent getting things ready for the summer gardening and the watering system. I have had a hose or two to replace and a sprinkler head or two to replace. I must say my muscles are not used to this work and the getting up and down. They, my muscles, are sure complaining and otherwise letting me know that I have been doing some activities that I have not had to do for a while. My lawn is growing like crazy and I have not been able to cut it because my mower is at the repair shop getting a tune up. By the time I get home from Hawaii I will have a good crop of grass.

Say, that was a great rain storm we had Tuesday. That will sure help things grow. My peas are up and growing but as yet I have not dared set out the tomato plants Reed gave me. These plants are out growing their containers.

We, Jason, Brian and I made a trip to Myton last Saturday. While there we decided to burn the ditch bank off. This got kind of interesting. Just when we got the fire going a wind decided to come up and help the fire along. There was a time when it might have got away from us, but I stood my ground like a good fireman and stopped it before it burned up the bridge and maybe half of Myton. I don’t think Brian wanted me to set any more fires but I did. This time however, with more control. I hope this message finds everyone well. Next time I will tell you all about my trip to Hawaii.

Do take care,

Love,

Neil

Grandmother Atta Murray – Things I remember Part II

Grandmother would always say, “Eat this or that so that it will stick to your ribs.” Grandfather would always say, “Now make out a meal”. Then after breakfast as soon as what grandmother would need for her day was retrieved, like wood for the cook stove and anything she might need from the potato pit that day, the work in the field started. Depending on the time of the year it could either be planting, weeding, mowing hay, hauling hay, shocking grain or herding the cows. By the time noon came it was easy to see why grandmother admonished us to eat enough to last us until noon. Because by the time noon came around there was not much left sticking to our ribs. We were pretty gaunt. The noon meal was always the big meal of the day. It seemed like grandmother always had a feast. On the farm this meal was always referred to dinner. The evening meal was always referred to as supper. The evening meal was generally the lightest meal of the day. Anyhow when we finished dinner it was always customary to rest our dinner. This generally took about an hour and then it was back to the fields. You always stopped the work in the fields when it was time to take care of the milking and evening chores. Then you would go through similar steps in the evening as we had done that morning and then as soon as the evening chores were done it was time for supper.




When I think of my Grandmother Atta Murray, I see her in a print dress and she always wore an apron. She wore her hair in a bob on the back of her head. I have seen her with her hair down and can remember her combing it in the evening. It seems as though there was always some time in the evening after supper and the dishes and all chores were done when I guess there was what one would call leisure time. These were the times when I always saw grandmother quilting or sewing. Grandfather would be at the table with his reading glasses on and under the coal oil lamp reading the scriptures or paper. The children were probably involved in reading a book, paper or playing a game like Monopoly. It seems like the game of Monopoly has been around forever. My mother told us that when the girls were home and it was time to clear the dishes from the table and wash them Grandfather would say to the girls “Come Sarah! Come Margaret!”



I remember grandmother always cooking and cleaning. She was always busy. Sunday, of course was the Sabbath and this is the day we took care of the necessary chores and then went to church. At that time there was a church building in Altonah. At this chapel I can remember helping pass the sacrament and being with the folks. Probably the last time I was in this chapel was at Gary’s funeral. This would have been in the fifties when our Deward was a baby. That was a very hard day. Gary was Uncle Claude and Nada’s first child. He was drowned in the canal that ran through grandfather’s farm.

From Anna and Wilmer Murray’s Journal

Friday April 11, 1980


(Justin’s Birthday) Cold, Work again. I Worked from 8:15 to 8:45. Part of this was taking my report to Jeanie. She lives in the house Dad and I admire. It is built against the hill in the rocks. We had to wait a while for her to come home. (While we waited) We made out my time sheet for her to send off. Then I worked from 6:30 to 8:45. Would have done one more (farm) but couldn’t get the people to answer the door.

LaVora called to see if Dad had gotten word of the Silver Beaver yet. Brother Heaton said it was official and to bring Dad’s picture for the paper.



Saturday April 12, 1980

A beautiful day! Dad gives out when he goes to do the yard. So Archie came and finished tilling the garden, then he (Dad) and I finished cleaning the yard.

At 2:30 we went to the hospital to have Dad’s blood pressure checked. It is fine, but Dr. Shup told him he would call to see if he should take another water pill.

Dad received his official word about his Silver Beaver. So we went to Heatons to pick up tickets. We bought eight but probably need more. We had a letter from Alice.

Jerry and Marylyn News

Hello Murray Family!
I guess it is my turn to write and I'm hoping that this is finding you all doing well. I'd like to hear from more of you on the Murray family blog! Neil does a great job keeping us up-to-date on his family and keeping us in touch with Grandma and Grandpa with interesting pictures and tidbits of information.
We have our reservations to the Murray Family Reunion in Nauvoo, so we hope that we will see many of you there. We are also looking forward to spending some time in beautiful Maui the end of this month.

Jerry and I (mostly Jerry) are painting the inside of our house, so this pretty much takes up our time during the day. We are hooked on "24" and "Dancing With the Stars", so that is our entertainment. Each morning we try to do indexing of 100 names. The days seem to come and go too fast.
We enjoyed General Conference and Easter! We had the Lyle Murray family over the day before Easter; and Susannah, Kevin, and Jenn over for Easter dinner. Lisa and family are on vacation in Nevada, Grand Canyon and Arizona while Kyra and Austin are out of school for Easter vacation. Allison went to Pocatello with her roommate for Easter. Susannah and Kevin just returned from a wonderful trip to Niagara Falls and Palmyra, so they are really doing Church history trips this year as they will be at the Nauvoo reunion with us. I just thought I would tell you that we have the six cutest grandchildren ever!
Happy Spring everybody. Stay healthy and well!
Love,

Marylyn (and Jerry)

Lately For Allison

Hello Family!

I hope everyone is happy and well.  I figured it was about time for me to turn in an update!  Things I've been up to recently...I went with my roommates down to Southern California and we had a lot of fun with Lisa's kids and going to Disneyland.  I also booked my flight to China...my friend and I leave on May 9th!  I can't wait!  I attended the Color Festival in Utah.  Mom and dad were freaked out that I would get all that color all over their house.  I'm going to going to say if they were right or not!  :)  Last night I got back from Pocatello, my first time there!  I went with my roommate to her parent's house up there for Easter/Conference.  We had a great time.  Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well!

Dear Family

Dear Family March 27, 2010


Hello to everyone, from my little part of the world. From here I have had the opportunity to experience warm and cold days, snowy and rainy days and all of the usual things that happen in the month of March. With all of this going on I managed to spade my little garden area, have managed to have my trees pruned and the limbs hauled away. The leaves are coming out on the current bushes, the buds are swelling on the cherry and apple trees and the lawn is getting green and as a result I can see nothing but a lot of work. The thing that keeps me going is the thought of the harvest in the fall.

Around the 12th of March we managed to get all of the family together, those who were available and wanted to go, and attended the Disney on Ice – Worlds of Fantasy. This turned out to be a fun activity. The show was good but it was more fun to watch the facial expressions and gestures of the little ones and the young at hearts. That made it all worth while. We were pleased that it could happen at a time when those members of the family living out of State could be here with us. Our family filled two complete rows. Like the man said who sold me the ticket, “Your can have your own cheering section.” And we did.

Well I’m getting to the point where I’m thinking about Hawaii since it is now less than a month before departure date. I hope I can have most of my yard work done before we go, but right now the weather is not being very cooperative. I’m not sure if it is just conference week end or if winter is back or both. I wanted to put dormant oil on my fruit trees this week end but it looks like it is going to snow and rain all week end. Then it is cold too. Oh, things will work out, they always do, one way or another. I hope all is well with your families. Do take care.

Love, Neil

Jerry LaVora Dewey Neil Darrell

Pictures From Neil

4th of July 1960, Is there someone it the picture that you recognize?

Do you know what this is and what it was used for?

Story Time Part I

Some things I remember

A Typical Farm Yard of the 20 s

A day on Grandfather and Grandmother’s farm went something like this. You were up early in the morning, I would guess around four or five. Then the first order of business was to put hay in the stalls for the cows and then to bring them into the stable where each cow was locked in what we called a stanchion. Then it was time to milk. It seems like there was around 12 to 14 or so cows to milk. There was this one old gal that liked to kick, so grandpa always milked her. I still recall the ritual he went through to get ready to milk her. He had a rope that he would put around one of her legs and then put the other end around a board on the side of the barn wall and pull her leg back and until it was about straight. Then he would sit down and milk her. Clyde and I, by time he was finished with her, had most all of the other cows milked. Once the milking was done there were the calves to feed and the milk to separate. Then once all the chores were done it was time to go to breakfast. It seemed like we always had to take some milk to the house. While we were taking care of the animals, grandmother was getting breakfast. As I recall there was always Milk, all-bran muffins, whole wheat or cracked wheat cereal, eggs and in grandpa’s house I’m not sure whether there was bacon or not. Then before we started to eat, we would all kneel and Grandfather would give the payer. Once when Uncle Boyd and I were staying at the old homestead when we were working on the sprinkler system at the Altonah Cemetery I remarked to Uncle Boyd how I liked to listen to Grandfather pray and I was trying to remember the word he used as he started the payer. Uncle Boyd said “I will never forget” Then he repeated the words “Our Father Who Dwells in the Heavens ----.”

From Anna and Wilmer Murray’s Journal

Wednesday March 5, 1980


Nice day, but it clouded up at evening. I washed this morning and hung out the clothes. We were going to rake but Dad said it is too cold. About eleven I called Fred to go with us to Roosevelt. He is really tired. He works to hard in the yard. We shopped for cloth and bats as Penny’s were having a Sale. When we got home I sewed and pressed the star quilt. It is all ready to be marked. Neil came to stay with us. After supper the phone rang. It was Jerry. They have a baby girl and all is well. He said the little quilt is in Customs yet. He has a job in San Francisco when he comes home. We called LaVora, she was asleep, we had a nice chat. Then we called the Darrell’s. Neil called Ella and then we called the Dewey’s. Everyone was pleased about the new addition to the Murray Clan.

Dear Family

Dear Family February 24, 2010


Just a line or two to let everyone know that I’m still around. There has not been a lot going on other than the usual things like church meetings, reading, planning or day dreaming and once in awhile watching the Olympics.

As far as my church calling, I’m still trying to figure out what it is that I should be doing. I have been reading a book that Reed gave me. It is titled “He Restoreth My Soul”. It is a rather sobering read. I find the author quite fascinating. In the evening I have been watching some of the Olympics. I have seen quite a bit of the ice skating competition. I find it quite interesting how easily they glide around and do all of their, sometimes scary moves. I used to think I was doing good to just stand up on a pair of ice skates. Oh well we had fun. As far as the day dreaming is concerned, what I’m thinking of is warmer days. This has been a cold winter. But then to keep from feeling sorry for myself I just take note of the temperatures in the Basin. Then, like the girl says in “The Sound of Music”, I don’t feel so bad.

As I noted last month it was my intention to write somewhat about my Grandmother Atta Armelia Ashby Murray. In preparation for my self assigned topic I had conversations with LaVora and Charlene. Each had a lot of memories to share. LaVora and I of course first hand and Charlene’s through the eyes and memories of her Grandmother, our Mother Anna Mary Winkler Murray. For this month we have included Charlene’s writing about her thoughts and feelings and Testimony. I hope everyone enjoys her account.



Love, Neil

Monday, February 08, 2010

There is a beautiful painting of Emma and Lucy Smith entitled “More than Just Friends” by Liz Lemon Swindle. When I first saw the painting I considered another role of Emma Smith, that of daughter-in-law. Given the many opinions of her that have been reported in religious education settings throughout my life, I sometimes had a negative view of her. I knew that it was not my place to judge and yet I often wondered why she did not remain true to the faith and gather her family in a safe refuge.


All it took for me to be justly reproved was to suffer just a small part of what Emma experienced. When my sister gave birth to a stillborn daughter and I followed a few years later with a grievous miscarry, my thoughts turned to Emma. I knew the grief and sorrow I felt for my sister and the emptiness I carried in my soul for children that would never be. How must it have been for Emma? She lost so much more than I and had no stable home to call her own. What anxieties must she have felt each day of her life when mobs disrupted her places of abode with constant threats and physical harm to her husband?

There was one person who was a constant throughout her life and that was Joseph’s mother, Lucy. Records show that Emma and Lucy were true and beloved companions. Lucy loved Emma dearly and that love was returned by Emma who cared for Mother Smith throughout her life.

I wanted to be a witness of that loving relationship. I wanted to know how it worked, and why it worked.

Often I have pondered these thoughts without realizing that I had role models much closer to me than I realized. I had a portrait very much like Emma and Lucy in Anna and Atta. I was blessed with a close and comfortable relationship with my Grandmother. We chatted freely about many topics. I had so much fun getting to know my Grandma.

I loved to listen to her tell me stories about my Great Grandma Murray. I didn’t know my Great-grandmother, but I knew about her from listening to my father recount his experiences with her. I knew how dear she was to my father and somehow it seemed natural that she was also dear to my grandmother. It took me a while to figure out that great Grandma Murray was my Grandma’s mother-in-law. When Grandma and Grandpa

were first married Great Grandma “took me in right away and loved me as a daughter.” Grandma talked about when they lived near one another in Altonah how Great Grandma would meet them at the close of a long day “with a chicken all dressed out” because she knew that they would be tired and hungry. Grandma talked of working in the garden with Great-Grandma and of being busy with church service during those days in Altonah.

Great Grandma was there for the dark painful days when death visited Grandma and Grandpa and robbed them of their beloved son. Great Grandma was there to care for them with a gentle hand and share their unspeakable grief.

When Grandma and Grandpa moved to Myton it was hard for them. “I missed her so much,” Grandma said.

At the close of my Great Grandmother’s life she came to be with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma told me how disease had robbed Great Grandma of her mobility and how she helped to bathe her and gently rub lotion on her “poor little body”. Other family members had attempted to feed Great Grandma prior to her coming to stay with Grandma and Grandpa and Grandma told me that she found food caked on the roof of her mouth. Grandma cleaned her mouth out and helped her eat broth which she could more easily swallow.

My Grandma always cried when she told me about the last night of Great Grandma’s life. Great Grandma was in the upstairs bedroom and it was getting dusk. Grandma went in to make sure that Great Grandma was comfortable. Grandma said that she seemed frightened, so she remained in the room with Great Grandma to comfort her. Great Grandma said, “Blind, Anna.” Grandma, thinking that the sinking sun was bothering her eyes, pulled the blind down. When Grandma recounted the story to me she said, “It wasn’t until after she died that I realized she was trying to tell me that she couldn’t see; that she was blind.” Then my Grandma wept. She too was blind, and she knew better than anyone how frightening that must have been for her mother-in-law.

In my opinion there could not be a more pure picture of what a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is than Anna and Atta. I have never read accounts nor heard stories of my Great-Grandmother from anyone who knew her who didn’t testify of what a remarkable, faithful daughter of Zion she was. I am so glad that I knew her through my Grandmother’s eyes. Eyes that couldn’t see things of mortality at the last, but eyes that help me see the “sweetest soul that ever walked the Earth.”

I believe that my Grandma loved her mother-in-law so dearly for at least two reasons. 1) They both loved Wilmer and 2) My Grandmother had a remarkable loving relationship with her own mother, Martha Verona.

Atta Armelia (Back row)

William Ashby Family

Pictures From Neil

There is a big red bull on the hill, it eats & eats & Never gets full. What is it?

Darrell Kay Murray

From Anna and Wilmer Murray’s Journal

Monday, February 11, 1980


It is still cold. – Made several trips up and down the stairs for exercise. Then caught up on this writing. I have been neglecting it. It is so hard to remember back, I get my days mixed up. That was one of the goals I had set for myself, but get too involved with other things. Will try to do better. Worked on the little quilt. Had to make the one ruffle all by hand. Ruth called to tell us Senior Mortensen died. Still no letter from Jerry’s. Received one from LaVora with a $-- check for the dolls and Valentine. So we called them. Had a good visit on the phone. LaVora is like Travis said, “a Perfect person”. Dad and I enjoy each other so much.

Tuesday, February 12 1980 (my mother’s birthday)

Cold but a very nice day. I called LaVora again this morning I had a question on my mind and I wanted to tell her what a good person she is. They were not awake. John answered, it was about 5:30 a m here so it would be six thirty there. Dad took me to Relief Society. I offered the prayer in prayer meeting. Sisters Verda Campbell and Reva Allred were Stake visitors.