THE McMURRAY FAMILY by Mrs. J . D. Robertson (May McMurray) 1967

    In April, 1918, W. B. McMurray, an insurance agent for the Manufacturer's; Life, was transferred from Brandon to Russell.  He arrived with his wife Elizabeth and four children, May, Reta, Ruby, and Claris and took up residence at the corner of Pelly Avenue and Assiniboine (the Mather house).

    Three more children, Robert, Donald and James were born in Russell.

    Tragedy struck the family in April 1927, in the death of a beloved father at the age of forty-four years

   To support the family, Elizabeth McMurray carried on the insurance business of her late husband, until she moved to Winnipeg in 1937.  There she was employed by the Manitoba Government until her retirement in 1961.  She enjoys good health and looks forward to the bimonthly bridge club of ex-Russellites. She has fourteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren.

    May, Mrs. J. D. Robertson, Kenora, Ontario, lived in Russell until 1957. She was a trustee on the local school board for six years, before returning to the teaching profession in 1955.  She has two daughters, Sheila and Ann, who also received their education in Russell. Both girls won the Governor General's Medal in Grade XI. Sheila was Carnival Queen in 1952.

    Reta, Mrs. G. A. McLean, St. Vital, followed a business career.  She is accountant for the General Accident Group, the company with which she first started to work.

    Ruby, Mrs. D. B Thompson, Winnipeg, also followed a business career with the Travellers Insurance.  She has one daughter, Deborah.

    Claris, Mrs. C.G. Berg, Anaheim, California, was employed in the Hobby Shop of the T. Eaton Company.  She has two children, James and Janet.

   Robert (Bob), the only member of the family still residing in Russell, served for six years with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles during World War II.  He is interline passenger sales manager for Air Canada, Toronto.  He is married and has four children: Catherine, Stephen, Karen and Bruce.

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