Souris was the home of the Mooney family and Laura, born in March 1900, was a middle child of ten. After finishing her secretarial training at the Notre Dame Academy, she accepted an opportunity to work in Regina, Saskatchewan. But soon she moved back home and became a bookkeeper for Matthew & McLeans store in Souris.

William Murphy was stationed in Souris as a Section Man for the railroad, when he met Laura. After their marriage mey set up their home in Georgetown.

Laura soon developed a friendship wim a girl her age just down the block, named Cecilia DeLory. The two young mothers had much in common. They both had eight children and they loved to share stories about the latest happenings round the town. Before phones came to Georgetown, mey devised a code to call a meeting to chat. A red sweater was hung on one of their clotheslines and the other would arrange things so she could go to visit. Sometimes this was not an easy task but they always found time to spend together.

It is not surprising that William & Laura were one of the first homes in Georgetown to get a phone. The new phone was put in the front hallway and shared with the neighborhood. If a call came in, Laura would send one of her children to get the party who was wanted on me phone. For the outgoing calls, Laura would check the price with the Phone Company and collect the funds to pay her bill.

Laura kept busy with homemaking. She would sew, hem, patch, bake, pickle and preserve. She usually tended a cow, a pig and a few chickens. Still she fouhd time to serve as Town Clerk for many years. She was a member of the CWL and during me war, many remember her countless ways of helping others in greater need than herself.

Laura found joy in many things. She would perform in plays or read one of her poems. Parties and dancing gave her great pleasure and she honoured each son with a dance on her 100th birthday. She was especially fond of playing cards. When she resided in me Seniors Apartments, she and several friends would frequently be found in the common room playing a lively game of Auction for nickels.

Laura lived four months past her 101st birthday. Her friend's daughter was sent to the wake with a red sweater and carefully tucked it into me casket with Laura. Just like they did in me old days, the sweater meant to come over for chat. "Cil" went to meet her dear friend, Laura Murphy, seven months later.

Copyright
Waldron H. Leard