McMurray, Thursia J. 1842-1926

MCMURRAY, SMITH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 6/24/2011 at 07:41:36

The Grinnell Herald; Grinnell, Iowa; Aug. 10, 1926

LONG AND USEFUL LIFE IS ENDED

Best Comes to Mrs. J.H. McMurray, Sr., at Advanced Age of 84 Years.

FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD SATURDAY MORNING.

Rev. H.L. Wissler, of Chester, a Long Time Friend, Gave Eloquent Tribute.

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Mrs. James H. McMurray was born Thursia J. Smith at Galena, Illinois, January 5, 1842, and passed away at Grinnell, Iowa, August 5, 1926, aged 84 years, 7 months.

She was united in marriage to James H. McMurray in 1860 in Andrew, Jackson County, Iowa. To this union were born two sons, George H. and J.H. McMurray, both of Grinnell, Iowa.

Her husband, Mr. McMurray, was born in New York and came to Iowa in an early day, locating at Independence in 1850. Later he moved to DeWitt and it was while living here he met and married his wife.

The family came to Poweshiek County in 1865? and settled in Brooklyn where they were engaged in t he Dry Goods business until 1887, when Mr. and Mrs. McMurray went to California. They returned to Iowa in 1892 where Mr. McMurray again entered the Dry Goods business with his son, J.H. McMurray in Grinnell, in which he continued until the time of his death in 1913.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. McMurray returned to California and made her home in that state most of the time since except the last two and a half years which she has spent here in Grinnell.

Mrs. McMurray's parents were of that splendid Tennessee and Kentucky stock of which she was justly proud.

Mrs. McMurray was a woman of wonderful mental faculties which she retained to the end of her days. A great reader, a reader of wide range, she took a very keen interest in political affairs and she knew what was going on in national affairs. She knew what she believed and why she believed them and could always give a reason for her faith.

Blessed as she was with unusual vision, she could spend long hours reading and storing her mind.

In her religious life she was an Episcopalian and in that as in other things she knew what and why she believed, and more, she knew in whom she believed, and as the end seemed drawing near, she said she was ready to go. Thus the end of the long journey came as the end of a perfect day. And she, like the tired laborer at the end of the day who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams, so she came to the end of Life peacefully.

She leaves to mourn her loss her two sons, George H. and J.H. McMurray of Grinnell, three grand sons and six great grand children, with many friends who knew and loved her.

The funeral was held Saturday morning at ten o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Rinefort where she had been making her home quite a long time. Services were conducted by Rev. H.L. Wissler of the Chester Congregational Church, a friend, and were a delightful expression of appreciation of the cultured woman who had passed before.

There were two songs by Mrs. D.H. Snook and Mrs. A.S. Ennis, "No Night There" and "In The Garden."

The bearers were William Vogt, A.L. Child, W.C. Rayburn, V.G. Preston, C.A. Blair and J.C. Goodrich.