Helen M. Murray, former coroners’ secretary
Helen (Ilona) Magyari Murray, 95, of Millsboro passed peacefully at her home Friday, March 31, 2017. Born Dec. 19, 1921 in Yorkville, Ohio, to Hungarian parents Mary Bogas Magyari and Alex (Sandor) Magyari, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Aubrey Phillips Murray. She was also preceded in passing by her parents and stepfather Nick Bochian, also of Yorkville, and sister Mari Zavicsa of Crizbov, Romania. The family originated from the Transylvanian region of Hungary, now part of modern Romania.
She was employed by the Glen L. Martin Aircraft Co. of Baltimore, at the start of World War II to weld aluminum. She also worked to promote the company's war effort, and was featured in store window presentations to help generate interest for women to join the factory war effort. After the war, she moved to Millsboro with Aubrey to begin their life together.
She worked as secretary for the last two elected Sussex County coroners, Douglas Melson and the late Vollie Gray, until the position was eliminated by the state Legislature.
She was very active in the American Field Service foreign exchange program and hosted exchange student Alberto Triana, from Bogota, Colombia, in 1966-67. She authored, with her husband, the book Magyar Lace based on the life of her mother who grew up in Hungary and migrated to America before World War I to join her first husband, who had by then established himself in Ohio. Her first daughter, Mari, remained with her grandparents until she could travel to join her parents in Ohio. They were never reunited, but the family has remained in touch ever since and visited, even during the Cold War.
She is survived by her son Randy K. Murray and wife Sharyn of Millsboro; her brother John Magyari of Columbus, Ohio; nieces Cheryl Layfield (Gary) of Millsboro, Reynette Magyari of Gahanna, Ohio, Michelle Kenworthy (Randy) of Fort Myers, Fla., Klara Suba of Romania, nephews W. Britt Murray (Bernice) of Georgetown, Allen Magyari of Columbus, John J. Magyari of Galena, Ohio, Sandor Mozes of Brasov, Romania, Arpad Mozes of Romania, Alpar Illyes of Romania, Joseph Illyes of Romania; and the caregivers who enabled her to remain in her home the last years, Lillian Taylor, Terry Cox, Charlotte Williams, Jeanette Hall and Ernestine Tindal.
A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 5, at the Long Neck Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 32013 Long Neck Road, Millsboro, with a funeral service to begin at noon at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, State Street, Millsboro. Father David Archibald will officiate. Entombment will follow at Millsboro Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com
