| Notes |
- The following article was copied from the "Second Church Spotlight" dated May, 1978.
ELLIS AND CORA MURDOCK FAMILY
This biography may be longer than some in the past issues have been, but then it covers more years. Ellis and Cora Murdock are the oldest couple attending Second Church.
Ellis was born in Clitherall, Minnesota and baptized there at the age of eight. Cora was born in Freeborn, Minnesota of Danish Parentage. Her family moved to Clitherall in 1915, where she met Ellis and was baptized in the church in 1917. The story of her conversion was printed in the "Stepping Stones", September 3, 1950. They were married April 27, 1917 by Lester Whiting, Ellis's uncle (who later moved to Independence and also attended Second Church). Cora and Ellis moved to Independence in 1919 and lived on West South Avenue when the street was not yet paved.
Their five children, Orison, Fae, Alva, Matie and June were all born within a three block radius of Second Church. They attended Second Church from 1919 until 1933. Ellis was called to the office of Deacon in 1922 by Arthur Allen, the third pastor of Second Church. After their first son was born, they lived in Lamoni for one year while Ellis attended Graceland College (he had attended before in 1915 at what was called the Academy-equivalent to high school). While Ellis attended Graceland, Cora cooked and kept house for their landlord to pay the rent.
During the depression they lived on a farm in the Ozarks, then moved back to the family farm at Clitherall, Minnesota in 1936. While attending the Clitherall branch, Ellis was called to the office of Priest by Lester Whiting in 1936. In 1943 they sold the farm and again returned to Missouri, Odessa for two years and then back to Independence in 1945. They moved into the house at 403 South Avenue where they are still living. In 1952, Howard Timm, then pastor of Second Church, called Ellis to the office of Elder.
Cora has worked continuously in the Primary Department since 1945. She started baking the sacrament bread in 1957 when Chris Hartshorn was pastor, and is still doing this for us.
Although they were never "rich" by world standards, they helped all five of their children attain a college degree. Three attended Graceland.
Ellis has been a farmer, where his greatest joy was trading horses. He never farmed with a tractor. He also has been a horse and/or truck delivery driver, but his most enjoyable job was in the mail room at the Auditorium for fifteen years, from where he retired in 1968.
All of her children will testify that Cora was a hardworking, kind and understanding mother. She loves cats and could milk a cow, ride a horse or bicycle with the best of them. When she was sixty years old, she was still demonstrating to her grandchildren how to ride a bicycle.
Ellis and Cora have attended Second Church for a total of 47 years, under 22 of the 24 pastors. This surely must set a record.
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