Mt. Vernon – John Hopkins Murray, 91, passed away at home surrounded by his family on December 18, 2021.
He was born November 20, 1930, the son of W.O. and Mary Murray. He is survived by his children, Deborah Schrader, John (Bobbi) Murray, Barbara Logan, Richard Murray (Rachel Beauchamp), and Lisa (Darin) Ford, sisters-in-law Peggy (John) Maloney, Becky, Mary, and Jean Nelson, brothers-in-law Teddy (Frannie) Nelson, Tom White, and Elwood Howard, grandchildren Richard Grace, Jamie (Kim) Lekites, Jennalee Murray (Mark Fetzer), Jeff (Kelly) Logan, Jennifer (Doug) Hoffman, Tara (Jim) Tripoli, Philip (Katie) Murray, and Jason Abbott (Nicole Scheibstein), great-grandchildren Wyatt and Karson Lekites, Rallee and Bristol Evans, Lauren, Devin, and Allyson Logan, Taylor and Nathan Hoffman, Greyson and Luciana Tripoli, Mackenzie Muir, Lane and Chase Murray, Luke and Jack Beauchamp, Joey Scheibstein, Jayce Abbott and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents W.O. and Mary Murray, in-laws Weldon and Frances Nelson, his wife of 71 years, Dorothy Nelson Murray, brother William Murray, sisters Norma Shores, Margaret Poole, and Lois Ann Long, brothers-in-law Oliver Rawlings and Jimmy Nelson, Ike Shores, Edward Newton, Frank Poole, and Robert Long, sisters-in-law Mary Howard, sons-in-law Larry Schrader and Skip Logan, grandson Matthew Nielsen and great-grandson Shane Abbott.
John's education started at Mt. Vernon grades 1-6. Grade 7 came at Princess Anne Elementary, and 8-11 was at Washington High where he graduated with the Class of 47. John and Dorothy first met during their 7th grade year at Princess Anne Elementary where she became the love of his life. They went steady through high school and were married for 71 years for a total of 75 years together.
During his years at WHS, he became intensely aware that "Farming was his calling", so much so he briefly considered quitting school. WWII had taken a lot of America's work force away from agriculture. John wanted to farm to help feed our troops. In school, he was very active in Future Farmers of America, exhibiting many swine and beef projects at shows in MD, DE, and PA, with remarkable success, once winning Top Showmanship honors at Delaware State Fair and twice at Maryland State Fair. A classmate, later to become D.V.M. Leroy Johnson, has often referred to John as "The Dean of Showmanship". His ability and way with cattle was so evident. He was offered a position with several nationally known cattle herds after graduation, but he would not leave Mt. Vernon or his aging father.
After graduation John joined his father and Hop Fisher, a neighbor, raising vegetables, chickens, grain and a few cattle. John and Dorothy were married March 2, 1949, and with a loan for a down payment from his mother, bought their first farm on April 1, 1950.
In 1955 as his father's health was failing, he became a full partner trading as Murray and Fisher. Later that year they bought 104 acres on which they built a new tomato canning factory and partnered with Kings Creek Canning Co. In 1957 he was awarded as low bidder, a Somerset County School Bus contract. He went on to drive 57 years until 2014 without a single mishap. John was quoted as having transported children of four generations from the same family.
John's second love came in 1971 as he formed John H. Murray & Sons, thus allowing to increase land and cattle operations. He was active with daily operations, often working long hours 6 and sometimes 7 days a week. At 89 years old, he drilled beans on an open tractor for 15 hours in June, stopping only for fuel, a drink of water, seed and to say "Come on boys-moisture is leaving us".
He was a member of Asbury Methodist Church and lifelong supporter with strong faith and love of his community. Some of his honors include a trip to Chicago for 4-H National Congress, co-winner with Marion Holland of Farm Bureau Young Farmer award, member of agriculture conservation stabilization committee, several terms on MD Agriculture Land Preservation Board , PNC Bank Board of Directors help form 1st Johnson Grass Control Committee, 4-H Club leader, assistant FFA advisor and chaperone to fairs, State appointed livestock judge, helped establish Somerset County Fair in 1962, replacing the Princess Anne Livestock Show which ran from 1942-1962 formed by Future Farmers of America at Washington High School by the leadership of teacher/adviser Howard Anderson. John's top two prized Awards/Honors were Fulton Green Award and induction into Maryland's Agriculture Hall of Fame.
John would often say he would've been nothing without Dorothy. This must have been obvious to others as she was the first female recipient of the Fulton Green Award. They hang side by side in the farm house.
Someone once said of John Murray: Only God knows where walks a man that has a greater love for a cow and the land.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, December 28, 2021 from 6:00 P.M – to 9:00 P.M at Hinman Funeral Home in Princess Anne, MD. A funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. at Asbury Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon. Pastors Alyssa Nantt and Sonny Benton will officiate and interment will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to Mt. Vernon Asbury Methodist Church, c/o Marlene McIntyre-Treasurer, 13263 Renshaw Rd, Princess Anne, MD 21853