Grand Old Lady of 95 Years Passes

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 226, 23 September 1943, Page 2

Grand Old Lady of 95 Years Passes

MRS. SARAH ANNE McMURRAY The passing of Mrs. Sarah Anne McMurray, of Ada Street, on September 14 at the great age of 95 years brought to a close the life of a grand old lady and one which has been a shining , example to all around her. The late Mrs. McMurray was born in Nelson, her father, the late Captain S. B. Silcock, of England, having made more than one voyage to this country before marrying and taking up land in that centre in 1842. Mrs. McMurray was the third of a family of 14. In duo course Sarah Silcock met and married Robert McMurray in 1872, removing to his farm at ‘ ‘ Tliorneycroft,’ ’ Brightwater, not far from her father’s home. Their next move was to the- Inangahua Valley, Westland, in the heart of dense bush, where they settled in after a hazardous .journey by sea and horse, household goods, pigs, ducks and fowls having to be taken up the Buller River. These intrepid folk had little contact with the outside world and had to put up with rain for months on end. Everything had to be made in true pioneer manner, even candles and shoes for the children arriving in due course. But Mrs. McMurray was a woman of great resources and had a natural aptitude with tools fashioning furniture and toys, in addition to all her housewifely achievements of butter, cheese and bread making, etc. When a move was made to the North Island Mr. and Mrs. McMurray chartered the “Murray,” and removed their four children, household goods and stock to Foxton on the first stage of their-journey to their new farm at Awahuri, the last lap of the trip being made on the old tram line to Sanson. Six years later a move was made to Wanganui, where Mr. McMurray acquired an interest in the “Gertie” carrying coal and timber from the West Coast to and from Australia. With her family growing up Mrs. McMurray could not bear to sit with folded hands and at this stage took up relief carving and though over 50 years of age, enrolled as a student at the Technical School. Her family will treasure many examples of the craftsman’s art. * She made innumerable patchwork quilts, crocheted car rugs, all kinds of wool work, slippers with soles as expertly as a cobbler and added the accomplishment of exquisite pillow lace after she had reached three score years and ten. This little lady’s philosophy and cure of all ills was to keep busy and she certainly kept her faculties to the end. She became indisposed about a month before her death, continuing to sew while confined to bed and celebrated her 95th birthday quite happily. Mrs. McMurray was a staunch supporter of St. Andrew’s Church and attended Sunday service until a few years ago when the wireless had to satisfy for a religious service. She was a keen member of the social guild and for 10 years did not miss “grandmothers’ day,” holding most of the records for grandmothers. It was fitting when she passed to her rest that she should be surrounded by the beautiful flowers she loved to grow.

Mr. McMurray predeceased his wife in 1927, the family having lived in Palmerston North since 1934. Thero were six children of the marriage of whom four are living to mourn their loss—Mr. Robert McMurray, of Palmerston North, Mr. A. T. McMurray, ot Bulls, Mrs. P. R. Ryan, of Wanganui, and Miss E. M. McMurray, who had been her mother’s devoted companion. There are also 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.