Martha Murray

MARTHA J. MURRAY Martha Jane Murray, daughter of Henry and Ora P. Bonham Rowe, was born, April 20, 1916 in Henry, Illinois. She departed this life, Friday, May 15, 2009 in Osage Beach Health Care Center, Osage Beach, Missouri at the age of ninety-three years and twenty-five days. On November 6, 1937 in Joliet, Illinois, she was united in marriage to Harold S. Murray. To this union three children were born. Together they shared sixty-three years until his passing on May 6, 2000. She was also preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Viola Fulton, Pauline Herron and Betty Stroup; two brothers, Virgil Rowe and Orman Rowe and a great-granddaughter, Carissa Stonitsch. Survivors include her children, Kay Stonitsch and husband Gerald of The Villages, Florida, Jane Carter and husband Don of Osage Beach, Missouri and Thomas Murray and wife Angela of Wilmington, Illinois; thirteen grandchildren, David Stonitsch and wife Vickie of Miramar Lakes, Florida, Joni Stout of Houston, Texas, Kevin Stonitsch and wife Melanie, Tim Stout, Mark Stonitsch and wife Kim, Scott Stonitsch, Chad Stout and wife Kimberly and Eric Erickson and wife Amy, all of Camdenton, Missouri; Kelly Barrett of St. Louis, Missouri, Katherine Murray Corrigan and husband Charlie of Seattle, Washington, Matthew Murray, Daniel Murray and David D. Murray all of Wilmington, Illinois; twenty great-grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy Moreland of Albuquerque, New Mexico and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. She was raised in the Henry, Illinois area and attended several high schools. She studied nursing at Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Illinois and graduated as a Registered Nurse in the class of 1937. She continued to work at Silver Cross Hospital for many years. She later worked as an Infirmary Nurse at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Harold and Marty and close friends owned a restaurant in the 1950's. She and Harold retired to the Lake of the Ozarks in 1973. She made a profession of faith in Christ and was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Camdenton. While in Illinois, she was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Lockport. Martha was a member of the BPW in Lockport, Illinois and Sunrise Beach, Missouri. She was active in all her children's school activities and had been president of the PTA. She was named "Mother of the Year" in Sunrise Beach in 1986. She was always an accomplished seamstress and designed many costumes for Kelly School of Dance in Joliet, while her daughter's were students. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing, crafts and singing in the church choir. She loved traveling with her husband to many prize bird shows. She enjoyed horse racing and had the opportunity to attend the Kentucky Derby. Martha was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt and was a caring neighbor and friend. She touched many lives in her ninety-three years and her legacy will live on forever. Funeral services were held Sunday, May 17, 2009 in Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home. Committal services and burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2009 in Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Joliet, Illinois. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice and left at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton.