Audrey Murray
Audrey Alice (Gill) Murray, 93, of Holyoke, died Nov. 21, 2021, at Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke.
Audrey was born April 30, 1928, at home in Deuel County, Nebraska, to James Franklin Gill and Amelia Elizabeth (Hassler) Gill.
The family home was situated along the South Platte River between Julesburg and Big Springs, Nebraska. Audrey attended her first two grades in a one-room country school in Sedgwick, having to walk a mile across a pasture. In 1936, the family moved to Big Springs, where she graduated from high school in 1946.
While still in high school, she took a two-year course of Normal Training, which allowed her to teach in a rural school. Following graduation, she taught all grades in a one-room schoolhouse north of Big Springs for two years and in Amherst for two more. During this time she continued her education for two summers at Colorado State College in Greeley.
In June 1950, she married Deane Leon Murray in Amherst. This union was blessed with four children: Richard, Dianne, Scott and Christine.
The family first lived on a farm southeast of Venango, Nebraska, and then moved to a family farm east of Amherst. When Deane passed away in 1966, Audrey purchased a farm closer to Amherst where she raised her family. After living on the farm for 39 years, she moved to Holyoke in 2005. Later in life she moved into Carriage House and Regent Park in Holyoke.
Audrey enjoyed working for almost 40 years in the dietary department of Melissa Memorial Hospital, starting as a night cook and then kitchen manager, which included nutritional assessments and diabetic teaching with patients. She continued to volunteer at the hospital after retirement.
Audrey was confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst. She looked forward to Bible study and was passionate about supporting the Orphan Grain Train and other mission projects of the church.
Audrey volunteered at the Welcome Center in Julesburg and was actively involved with the Friends of the Library. For many years she was involved in the Democratic Central Committee. She was a representative from Phillips County to the Northeast Colorado Area Agency on Aging.
Audrey was never without a book to read and discuss, especially enjoying historical stories. She was an independent thinker and was well read. Being active outdoors, gardening and exercising were things she really liked to do.
She cherished her time with grandkids and went to as many of their activities as she could. Grandkids have fond memories of staying with her and playing with cousins on her farm. Family members looked forward to her holiday dinners with delicious comfort food, homemade dinner rolls and favorite desserts. She was often admired for her independence and perseverance.
Audrey was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Deane; daughter, Christine Heermann; grandson, Regan Murray; great-grandson, Ethan Murray; sister and brother-in-law, Naomi and Leo Meyer; brother, Samuel Gill; sister-in-law, Sheila Gill; and half-brother, James Gill.
Audrey is survived by her children, Richard and Jodell Murray, Dianne and Steve Armour, and Scott and Sharon Murray; son-in-law, Eldon Heermann; grandchildren, Eric Murray and Lua, Ryan Murray, Brett Murray and Josie, Lance Murray, Evan Murray and Christina, Jeff Armour and Toni, Mitchell Armour and Juliana, Justin Heermann and Ashley, and Sarah Heermann; great-grandchildren, Stephen, Matthew, DJ, Isaiah and Penelope Murray, Sophia and Aria Armour, and Ronan Heermann; brothers, Don and Kay Gill, Bob and Lola Gill, and Lowell and Sue Gill; and sister-in-law, Leona Gill.
Memorials have been established to Holyoke’s Friends of the Library and the Amherst Women of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
The funeral service was held Nov. 29 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst. Interment followed at Holyoke Cemetery.
Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.