Delia (Allen) Murrish was born in Victor, Teton, Idaho, November 29, 1904. Daughter of Charles Albert and Mary Ellen (Allen) Allen. She passed peacefully June 12, 2005 in Fortuna, California at the age of 100. She was the last living child of 14.
Delia married Sidney Murrish in 1923 in Twin Falls, Idaho. They moved from Idaho to Oroville, Butte, California in 1926, eventually settling in Rio Dell in 1932. She and her husband Sidney bought Parker's Grocery there in 1941, which also included the Rio Dell Post Office and Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Companies Telephone Exchange.
After the end of World War ll. in 1946 they closed the the store and the Post Office moved to its current location. Delia took the telephone exchange into her home and operated it for eight years until the dial system was installed in 1956. She was on the job through several emergencies, including the flood in December 1955 where, due to power loss, the switchboard had to be hand cranked. She then went to work for the new post office as a clerk and was there for 20 years until she retired at age 70.
"Deal", as she was called, was a wonderful person, always pleasant, cheerful, and such a good sport. She loved to travel and spending time at the family place at Ruth Lake. In her earlier years she enjoyed salmon fishing with her husband Sid off Humboldt Bay. There were plenty of arguments over whose fish was the biggest! She loved her home on Cherry Lane and was always busy gardening, canning, and raising African violets.She kept a diary of all the family activities from 1937 to 1990. We have been a five- generation family since 1986. Family meant everything to her and we will never forget her loving care and generosity. She lives on in all of our hearts.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Sidney Murrish in 1972 and her beloved son-in law Lawrence Varnado, who was always there for her, in 1999.
She is survived by a daughter, Nita Varnado, grandson Larry Varnado and his wife Pat, great grand daughter Stacey Lennon and brother- in -law Lewis Murrish and his wife Mary, both of Oroville, Ca survive her.
Donations may be made to St. Luke Healthcare, 2321 Newburg Road, Fortuna California 95540 or a favorite charity. Arrangements are under the direction of Goble's Fortuna Mortuary, Fortuna
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Published in Eureka Times-Standard on June 17, 2005