Cate

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Marion, Shirley, and Nevin Murray

Shirley and Marion Murray, holding Nevin about 1940

A year ago I wrote about Marion Murray, Shirley Cate, and their son Nevin. I scanned the photos of Mel and Colleen Todd and continue to work on those photos. Interestingly, this photo has “Marion, Murray Shipley, + Nevin” written on the back. As I worked through some of those unknown photos, I remembered researching and writing on Marion Ellsworth Murray. I went back, and it dawned on me the name was Shirley, not Shipley. I am happy to add this photo with some of the back story to it.

Joanna Virginia Angeline Todd (1898-1997) is related to the Todd line, which is why they have the photo. She married James Ellsworth Murray (1895-1918) and he died of the influenza only two years into their marriage. They had a son, Marion. She remarried to Roy Elgin Davis (1888-1957).

Marion married Shirley Isabelle Cate (1922-1995) and they had a son named Nevin Wayne Murray (1939-2003). He later took the name of Shirley’s next husband, who she married in 1944, to Nevin Wayne Gibson.

The family looks happy and content on a summers day here. Likely in Twin Falls County Idaho. She remarried within about 4 years. What happened or what went wrong? But this snapshot looks whole.

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Davis/Murray Photos

Unknown, Marion Murray, Roy Davis in Twin Falls County, Idaho

Sometimes something about a photo just captures something that makes you look closer. This is one of those photos. There is so much happening. Here is what I know.

Roy Elgin Davis was born 24 Dec 1888 in Drexel, Cass, Missouri and died 27 December 1957 in Twin Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho. 1895 found him in Lane, Franklin, Kansas; 1900 found him in Alamota, Franklin, Kansas; 1917-1918 also in Lane, Kansas; 1920 in Poplar Grove, Twin Falls, Idaho; 1930 in Rock Creek, Twin Falls, Idaho; 1940 in Kimberly, Twin Falls, Idaho.

I am not quite sure where Poplar Grove is. But he made it to Idaho in time to meet, court, and marry Joanna Virginia Angeline Todd (1898-1997) on 18 October 1919 in Twin Falls. She was the widow of James Ellsworth Murray (1895-1918), who had been married a whole 2 years, he was 23 when he passed of the dreaded influenza. She had a son, Marion Murray (1917-1997)(another little girl had passed at birth, Virginia). Marion likely did not have any memories of his father and only knew Roy.

This picture of a cold Marion is likely about 1930 when they were living between Rock Creek and Kimberly. The snow on the ground and jackets show it is frigid outside. Roy is holding a horse, unknown man behind them, with this dog in front with what appears a leash. A muscular, strong dog of a breed I do not see often.

Marion in 1935 is found in Hawaii; 1940 in Carey, Blaine, Idaho; drafted from Muldoon, Blaine, Idaho (presumably the mine); and dies near Creston, Cumberland, Tennessee in 1997.

Fast forward a dozen years or so, and we find a picture of Nevin Murray on a bike being held up by Roy Davis. Young Nevin appears to be about 4 or 5 in a dapper suit and hat. Nevin Wayne Murray was born 20 May 1939 in Twin Falls, Idaho. He changed his name to Nevin Wayne Gibson and died 20 November 2003 in Miles City, Custer, Montana.

I want to read into the dates and locations for Marion and Nevin, but it is purely speculation. I located another photo of Marion, Shirley, and Nevin and posted here. Doesn’t appear things went well where Marion’s wife, Shirley Isabelle Cate (1922-1995) remarried in 1944 in Elko, Nevada, and Nevin took on that new husband’s last name.

But like the first, this photo captures a piece of humanity.