The Callans and McClarys, by John Edward Callan - Callanworld

Chapter 22
Robert JAmes Murray
and
Bertha Ida Litschgi
Robert James Murray was
born on 9 Apr 1885 in Evansville,
Ind. He died on 1 March
1957 in Ocala, Fla. He married
Bertha Ida Litschgi in Jun 1907
in Evansville, Ind. He resided in
Boonville, Mo. He was employed
as in Salesman Politician.
Bertha Ida Litschgi was born on
17 Feb 1885 in Evansville, Ind.
She died on 1 Nov 1979 in
Columbia, Mo. .
Robert and Bertha were
married twice, once in. a civil
ceremony on June 29, 1907 in
Henderson, Kentucky. and again
in a church ceremony on Sept.
21, 1907 in Evansville, Ind.
“Grandpa was anti-Catholic
for some unknown reason,” Beth
(Davis) McClary recalls. “He
always took Grandma to church
no matter what but he would not
allow the children to go. Dad
always said he thought Mom only
joined the Church to spite her
Father.”
Robert and Bertha had
three children, Robert James, Jr.,
Oliver Francis, who died at birth,
and Bertha Elizabeth, who was
Nancy McClary’s maternal
grandmother.
“I don’t really know much
about Mom’s childhood,” recalls
Beth (Davis) McClary.
“The only story I can
remember
my Grandma
telling about
Mom is
about the
time she gave
her coat
away. It
seems that
Mom had
gotten a new
coat for
Christmas or
something.
One day she
came home
and did not
have her new
coat. When
asked where
it was she
said that she
had given it
Bertha Litschgi and Robert James Murray.
~ 85 ~
to a little girl at school who did
not have a coat. Grandma being
the kind of person she was
appreciated the gesture but
wondered why Mom couldn’t
have given her Uncle Bob’s old
coat; which is what Mom had to
wear the rest of the winter. I
imagine that Mom didn’t care if
she had to wear the old coat and
a boy’s at that.
“From what I gathered
Mom was a real Tom Boy when
she was younger. She wasn’t
afraid of much and would try
anything at least once. Bob says
that she broke her arm several
times riding horses. I don’t dougt
that, I know that she vrok it once
doing high jumps in the back
yard.
“I think that Mom took
The Callans and McClarys
piano lessons as a young girl. I
found an old picture with her
sitting at a piano. I kind of doubt
that she really gave it her all
because it would have required
that she be in the house to
practice.
“Grandpa Murray had a
grocery store in Evansville and in
Arkansas City. He lost everything
more than once but always
seemed to be able to start over
again. I’m sure that there were
some hard times when Mom was
little. All I know is that Grandma
Murray would have always made
a comfortable home for her
family and would have always
provided love and care no matter
what the financial situation might
be.”
The parents of Robert