Elmer and Lydia Murray Scholarship Fund
Elmer and Lydia (Hooley) Murray were born near Shipshewana, Indiana. Before their marriage in 1911, Elmer earned a one—year teaching certificate at Goshen College and taught at the Pleasant Valley School near Middlebury, Indiana. To date, 18 direct descendants of Elmer and Lydia have attended Goshen College.
In 1920, with five children and four other families, they moved to Niagara County, New York. Elmer and Lydia purchased a dairy and fruit farm south of Gasport. There nine more children were born to them.
Their large house served as the first meeting place for the Christian fellowship which was to become the Clarence Center—Akron Mennonite Church. For many years Elmer served as Sunday School superintendent and teacher. Lydia was the last of the charter members. They generously helped other families settle in western New York and the church grew very rapidly.
Situated as they were near Niagara Falls, the passage way between Canada and the States, their spare bedrooms were frequently filled on weekends with travelers and friends. The family often recalls the time they had 40 uninvited guests for Sunday dinner.
To support these activities and a family of 14 children, the whole family contributed to the family income. The children who worked away from home gave their wages, and those at home each had their assigned chores on the farm and worked for neighbors on a day to day basis.
Elmer died in 1971 at the age of 81. Lydia died in 1985 at Greencroft Nursing Home in Goshen eight days before her 94th birthday. Having out-lived her finances, she left no estate. But she left a legacy of know—how, industriousness, self—reliance, love and goodwill in the hearts of her 14 children, all still living. She also left an unfulfilled dream of wanting to do more for Christ, His Church and the needy of this world. To help fulfill this dream, her children have established this Elmer and Lydia Murray Scholarship Fund as a living memorial to t:hei.r parents and the legacy they have received.