Stanley & Margaret Murray

January 1960

Stanley and Margaret Murray were lifelong residents and dedicated community leaders in Greenwood, New York — a couple whose service, faith, and family helped shape the heart of their hometown. Married in Greenwood on September 28, 1938, they built a legacy of hard work, civic involvement, and devotion to others that spanned generations.

Stanley Murray (b. February 8, 1913; d. January 12, 1980) was recognized as an Outstanding Citizen of the Past for his extraordinary record of public service. A farmer, business owner, and Justice of the Peace for 35 years, he was a long-serving member of the Town Board, managing Greenwood’s Summer Recreation Program, Boy’s Baseball League, and the community pool. His sense of duty extended beyond local government: Stanley served in the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Command Ground Observation Corps, and for decades he was deeply involved in youth programs as Scout Master of Troop 62 and Neighborhood Commissioner for Greenwood and Jasper.

Stanley’s dedication to community safety was equally remarkable. He volunteered with the Greenwood Fire Department and Ambulance Corps for over 30 years, eventually serving as Chief. As the Town Historian, he preserved the stories of Greenwood’s past for future generations. He was a lifelong member and Past Master of the West Greenwood Grange and Centennial Lodge of the Masons, as well as a Noble Grand of the I.O.O.F. Lodge and a member of the Moose Lodge — organizations that reflected his lifelong belief in service, fellowship, and civic pride.

Margaret Murray (b. January 27, 1911, d. April 1, 1994) contributed equally to the life of her community through education and service. A devoted teacher at Greenwood Union School, Woodhull, Jasper, and Greenwood Central School, she influenced generations of local children. Like her husband, she also participated in the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Command Ground Observation Corps, and was active in the Home Bureau, promoting home and family life in rural communities. A woman of deep faith, she was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society at St. Mary’s Church in Rexville, and one of the charter members of the Greenwood Historical Society.

Together, Stanley and Margaret raised six children who carried forward their parents’ spirit of family and service:

• Ellen Murray Kilbourn (b. March 23, 1939; d. June 14, 1998)

• Catherine Murray Hawkins (b. July 26, 1941; d. July 19, 2000)

• John Charles Murray (b. October 10, 1942)

• Sarah (Sally) Murray Coates (b. August 19, 1944) – who remained in Greenwood and continues to live in the family home

• Stanley Edward Murray (b. September 13, 1946; d. August 31, 2024)

• Anna Marie Murray Schwartz (b. April 7, 1948)

Stanley and Margaret’s lives were woven into nearly every part of Greenwood’s story — from its schools and civic organizations to its churches, youth programs, and volunteer services. Their legacy endures not only through their family, but through the generations of neighbors and students whose lives they touched with quiet dedication and lasting kindness.

Find out more about them:

For Stanley -

• https://kmreynolds2.wixsite.com/greenwood/post/stanley-murray-esteemed-citizen-from-1913-to-1980

•  https://kmreynolds2.wixsite.com/greenwood/post/stanley-murray-1913-1980-part-2-of-4-my-young-adult-years

•  https://kmreynolds2.wixsite.com/greenwood/post/stanley-murray-1913-1980-part-3-of-4-my-daddy-years

•  https://kmreynolds2.wixsite.com/greenwood/post/stanley-murray-1913-1980-the-spoiler-his-grandpa-years

For Margaret -

• https://kmreynolds2.wixsite.com/greenwood/post/margaret-toombs-murray-part-1-career-woman

•  https://kmreynolds2.wixsite.com/greenwood/post/margaret-murray-part-2-of-3-working-mom

•  https://kmreynolds2.wixsite.com/greenwood/post/margaret-toombs-murray-part-3-of-3-hark-pardon-what-did-you-say