[78-L] Billy Murray's relatives

[Ryan Barna]

Greetings,

 

I'm a little behind on emails because of my limited Internet access. Apparently, everyone is asking whether or not there are any distant relatives of Billy Murray around.

 

Here's what I know:

 

Murray had four siblings: three brothers, and one sister. His three brothers had no children. His sister (Mrs. "Mae" Hickey) had a son who died in 1987. Four granddaughters currently survive that son, and these are the only blood descendants of Murray's parents, Patrick Murray and Julia Kelleher, that I'm aware of. A few months ago, two people contacted me claiming that Murray was their grandmother's cousin from Colorado, but I'm still trying to research this.

 

For those who would have interest in Murray's estate, and who would actually have the right to change his tombstone, would be his widow's niece. His widow Madeline died in 1986, and her niece was named the executor of her estate. I've consulted an attorney about this matter -- since Madeline was the executor of Billy's estate, and Madeline's niece was the executor of HER estate, this would make Madeline's niece the right to Billy's estate. She would have the right to change the gravestone.

 

I actually know Madeline's family members, and they are very nice people who are very enthusiastic about Murray. (They even kept some of his personal belongings.) I have not brought this subject up to them (it's really not my business to change what history left behind), but the next time I talk to one of them, I will.

 

Also, I've been to Murray's burial spot. His tombstone is VERY small, much smaller than I expected (matching precisely with all the others around him), and very narrow. Both Billy and Madeline are buried together, but not side by side -- Madeline is actually ON TOP of Billy.

 

I was told by someone who was buried at the Holy Rood Cemetery (where Murray is) that the cemetery had strict regulations for burial -- one of them was that the surname could ONLY be inscribed on the tombstones, and not their full name (I saved the email somewhere). But this same person also told me that the cemetery changed their rules, and they were about to get a more descriptive tombstone for their own family. I would need to contact the cemetery regarding this matter.

 

What about others artists? Ada Jones is buried in an unmarked grave. Henry Burr is buried in an unmarked grave. Walter Van Brunt's ashes are buried in an unmarked grave. And as I just learned last week, the great bass singer William F. Hooley is ALSO buried in an unmarked grave. (Do you have any idea how many Victor and Edison recordings he sang on without credit? Several hundred, I would imagine.) Sometimes, this is the way things are, and there's not much we can do about them. But like I said, I'll let Madeline's descendants know about this the next time I'm in touch with one of them. They would actually be fascinated by this discussion.

 

Someone also mentioned that there's no particular plaque or monument given to Murray anywhere. You'd be interested in knowing that the American Quartet (with Murray) was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. (Did you know that Billy actually had a liquor store named after him several decades ago by one of his ex-wives in California? And he didn't drink! Boy, if Billy found out about that...)

 

-Ryan Barna

http://www.denvernightingale.com 
 		 	   		  
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