Grace Anne ( O'Riley) Murphy
Born March 7,1921 Died September 16, 1991
Daughter of Megan and Charles O'Riley.
Having 4 brothers and no surviving sisters.
Mother to 4 sons and 3 daughters.
Grand mother to 22 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
She was 1st generation American. Her parents came to America in 1914. Bringing 2 sons with them. Leaving New York City for Vermont and the country life they were accustom to.
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Grace's favorite things
The colors Yellow & Green ~
Violets and Clover ~
The smell of baking bread & a fresh hayed field ~
Strawberries and Irish Stew ~
Sewing and Quilt making ~
Singing and Reading ~
Story Telling ~
Gospel Music ~
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Avid collector
She also collected pitchers one being only 1/2" tall to an amazing 2'3'' pitcher. Over the years she collected 327 pitchers in an amazing variety of colors and styles. Displaying them in every room of our home. Her pride an joy was a pitcher that was her Grandmothers sent to her from Ireland
by a cousin in the late 50's. An odd reddish brown with ivory doves painted on the sides.
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We meet
I met Grace at a church dance in 1935. Her family had just moved down from Berry, Vermont. She had bright red hair and milk white skin. A smile that stole my heart the first time I saw it. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with every smile
Unfortunately many of the other boys were also smitten with her.
I didn't get a chance to dance with her that night.
We only shared a shy hello.
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Time
Time went by it was summer and we had a lot of work on the farm. I only got to see her on Sundays at church. I will admit that summer I never heard a sermon all I could do was stare at her and daydream.
We did talk a time or two at church lunches. But the other boys held her attention.
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School
We were very advanced where I come from it was a 2 room school. One room for the younger kids and one for the older kids.
Grace sat 3 rows in front of me. Though she was 2 years younger she was much better in school.
I asked for her help in spelling. It was November and I'd finally gotten up the courage to talk with her We spent an hour together a couple of days a week practicing my spelling. I did get a little better.
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Christmas Dance
December 15th a day I will always remember. I visited Grace's father at the lumber yard. To ask his permission to take Grace to the Christmas dance. ( for you younger folks this was the proper way back then. Young ladies just couldn't go home and tell your parents you were going out.)
When he said yes I thanked him shook his hand.
Many years later he told me he heard my YIPPY after I had left the mill and watched me run down the road to his home to ask Grace. Almost 4 miles I ran falling several times in the snow.
She did say yes to a soaking wet boy. We had a wonderful time dancing and talking. After that night we spent more time together mostly talking about our hopes and dreams. Things we liked and didn't like. Never knowing in the next year the topic would change to planning our future together.
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Marriage
We were married on July 4th 1940. It was a small family wedding. With a huge 4th of July celebration after. We went to the big city of Burlington Vermont for our honeymoon. Stayed in a grand hotel. We went to our first movie there. Ate in a fancy restaurant. Swam in Lake Champlain. It was quite an adventure for us.
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