Elva Hooker Murray
February 05, 1916 - February 25, 2011
Sac City, IA, formerly of Highland, CA
Visitation: 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. Monday, March 07, 2011 at Harrison- Ross Mortuary in San Bernadino, CA
Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, March 08, 2011 at Highland Congregational Church in Highland, CA
Elva Hooker Murray, age 95, passed away Friday, February 25, 2011, at Park View Rehabilitation Center in Sac City,IA. Elva Virginia (Manly) Hooker Murray was born on her Grandfather Abraham Lincoln Manly’s farm about five miles south of Early, IA, on February 5, 1916. After attending country schools in rural Early, she graduated from Early High School in 1932. Economic woes of the Great Depression forced the family to move from the family farm into Early, and ultimately to live with her grandparents in Sac City, Iowa.
After her mother’s death in 1935, Elva worked at the Sac City Canning Company as well has helping with family responsibilities. In 1939, the opportunity arose to travel to Highland, California as a companion/helper for a woman with a broken hip. While in California, Elva met Robert E. Hooker, an orange grower and WW I veteran. After more than a year of dating, the couple was married on October 15, 1941, in Yuma, AZ. The couple returned to the Hooker home in Highland, CA, where she remained for 63 years.
Elva worked as a secretary for the Highland School District until the birth of their first son, Robert W. She returned to work for the school system after son Tom began kindergarten, and worked until her retirement in 1981. As a 50-year-member of the Highland Congregational Church, she was active in choir and bell choir as long as health allowed (which was many years.) When the church began serving Chuck Wagon Breakfasts, Elva became the orange juice chair, a position she would hold for more than 30 years.
Following her husband’s death in 1977, Elva remained alone for many years. Renewed acquaintance with child-hood friend Lynn Murray led to the couple’s marriage in 1991. They lived in Highland, CA, and Kent, WA, until Lynn’s sudden death less than one year later. Declining health led to moves to Williams, AZ, to live with her son, Tom, and a return to her child-hood home of Sac City, IA, to be near her sister Loraine Perry. She remained in Sac City until the time her death on Friday, February 25, 2011. Elva enjoyed spending time with her family, working in her church and traveling. She loved to share memories with all who would listen.
She is survived by sons: Robert Hooker of Kingman AZ, and Tom (Elaine) Hooker of Williams, AZ; grandchildren: Jennifer Erlenbusch, Ryan Hooker, Colter Hooker, Doug Black and Bryan Black; great-grandchildren: Kylie, Sarah, and Andrew Erlenbush, and Bruce, Bowen, and Alexandra Black; and sister Loraine Perry. She was preceded in death by husbands: Robert E. Hooker and Lynn Murray; parents Howard Clel and Mabel Alice (Williams) Manly; sister Betty Andrews Flaherty, brother Willard Manly, and brother-in-law Hubert Perry. Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery in Redlands, CA.
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