Mary Murr

JUNCTION Funeral services for Mary Farmer Murr, age 93, who passed away on May 11, 2012, will be held Monday, May 14, 2012, 2:00 PM at Junction Cemetery with Rev. Jim Barker officiating. Charles Hagood will give the eulogy.

Pallbearers will be Bill McMillan, Bobby Murr, Hayden Woodard, Delbert Roberts, Art Mudge and Larry Brooks. Honorary pallbearers are John Cashman, Jimmy Bannowsky, Gene Simon, Ronald Sutton, Will Roe and Jimmy Jones.

Mary was born on June 10, 1918. Her parents were both descendants of early Texas settlers. Her father, Hardy H. Farmer, was the grandson of Alexander Farmer, a Scotsman who immigrated to Texas in 1828 and became an associate of Stephen F. Austin. Alexander Farmer served as one of a group of bodyguards for Austin during the tense period before the Texas Rebellion and fought with Sam Houston at San Jacinto. Marys mother, Irene Hodges was the greatgranddaughter of Esther Berry, who settled in Texas with her family as one of the earliest settlers in the DeWitt Colony in 1825. Esthers second husband Dolphin Floyd was a member of the quotImmortal 32quot of Gonzales and died in the Battle of the Alamo on his 32nd birthday. Both the Hodges and Farmer families moved to Kimble County in the 1870s and established ranches. Mary was very proud of her pioneer heritage.

Kimble County suffered a very severe drought around 1917. The Farmer family decided to move most of their cattle herd to greener country to try to save them and found pasturage in East Texas near the Big Thicket. Hundreds of cattle and dozens of horses were driven to Menard and loaded on the train, accompanied by several ranch hands. Hardy and Irene Farmer moved to Kountze, Texas, to tend the livestock. Mary was born in Beaumont during their three year stay.

She graduated from Junction High School in 1936 and attended Mary Hardin Baylor University in Belton, graduating with a degree in journalism in 1940. For approximately 50 years, Mary ranched cattle, sheep and goats on the family ranch. She, along with family members, operated her part of the Farmer Ranch until her retirement in the mid 1990s.

Her son, Hardy Murr preceded her in death in 1990. She is survived by a daughter, Dixie Murr Kaye and husband, Tommy daughterinlaw, Jane Stevenson Chandler and husband, Fred of Ozona, TX. Grandchildren include Scott Davis, Susan Davis, Andrew Murr and wife Lacey of Junction and Rachel Bean and husband Ryan of Ozona. Greatgrandchildren include Claire Bean, Coke Murr and Wyatt Bean.

Mary always thought of herself as a rancher. She shared many of the pastimes of her father, including riding horses and fly fishing, and she derived special pleasure in observing the wonders of nature around her. She loved ranch life and animals and missed them greatly when she retired to Junction, although her friendliness and cheerful attitude made her many new friends in town. She enjoyed tending to others needs, and later in life, walking and was a diligent foe of trash and litter.

The family gratefully acknowledges the tender care of her grandson, Andy and his wife, Lacey, who made it possible for her to remain at home these past few years.

Memorials to the Kimble County Historical Museum Building Fund are welcomed and may be sent to the Kimble County Historical Commission, P.O. Box 271, Junction, Texas 76849.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kimble Funeral Home. 325 4463076

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