Edith Charlene Murr Allen

Edith Charlene Murr Allen was born on July 13, 1930 at her grandparents’ home just north of Ft. McKavett.  She passed from this life on February 27, 2024 at the home of her son Charles Allen in San Angelo.

For the most part she grew up on her parents’ ranch northwest of Cleo.  She graduated from Junction High School in 1948.  Edith married her high school sweetheart Billy Ed Allen on July 20, 1950.   They lived on the Allen ranch in southern Kimble County, which would be her home for the next 71 years.

They soon welcomed three boys into their family; Eddie, Charles and Lewis.  During those years Edith sewed clothes for herself and her family, crocheted hundreds of tiny socks for babies of friends and neighbors, and made prom dresses and wedding dresses for her sister, nieces and cousins.

As her boys grew older, Edith became the Cub Scout Den Mother for two lively crews of boys.  She helped start the Teen Center in Junction and for many Friday and Saturday nights could be found there chaperoning youth events.  Her home was a gathering place for young people – the trailhead for many rabbit hunts, fishing trips, coon hunts, arrowhead hunts, and occasional days of ranch work.

At about the time when her boys went off to college, Billy Ed began exhibiting symptoms of a debilitating disease which was later diagnosed to be multiple sclerosis.  She nursed him in their home for the next 14 years.

On March 5, 1978 they lost their eldest son Eddie in a car wreck off the slope of Lover’s Leap.

Upon Billy Ed’s death in 1988, Edith resumed her participation in community affairs.  She was a charter member of the Leti Study Club and an active participant in Friends of the Kimble County Library.  She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church.  She was the second woman to be elected an elder in the church.   (Blix Motley was the first.)  She served in that position with distinction for many years.

Edith compiled a book titled The Murrs Who Came to Texas; the record of the descendants of the two Murr brothers from Pennsylvania who received their discharge from the US Army in 1884 when Ft. McKavett was decommissioned.

She was perhaps most widely known for hummingbirds.   Starting on March 14 of each year, Edith kept numerous hummingbird feeders out in the yard.  It was estimated by the experts who came out annually to band hummingbirds at her house that she fed over 1,000 hummingbirds each year.

Edith was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Bill Murr; her son Eddie; husband Billy Ed; and brother Thomas “Horsefly” Murr.   She is survived by two sons; Charles and wife Vicki Allen of San Angelo and Lewis and wife Cyndy Allen of Junction; four grandchildren, Brad, Wade, Will and Andi; and one great grandchild, Dante; sister Ish Weathers and husband Carl of Waco; sister-in-law Elsie Murr; as well as innumerable nephews, nieces and cousins.  

A memorial service will be conducted at First Presbyterian Church in Junction at 12:30 that afternoon. Pall bearers will be Charles Hagood, Bob Allen, Will Allen, Gay Colvin, Paul Bierschwale and Rodney Murr.

Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church of Junction or to the Kimble County Library.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kimble Funeral Home. (325)446-3076