AMES Marjorie Marion

Notes:

By Kevin J. Murphy

Marjorie Marion Ames Murphy's life began on September 17, 1918 in Scotia, New York as the third daughter
born to Frank Harvey Ames and Doris Belle McTeigue Ames. Shortly after her birth she moved with here
family to Jacksonville, Florida and later to New Orleans, Louisiana. As a young girl, she was trained in
classical dance, ballet and gymnastics. She joined her 4 sisters, Dorothy, Alice Mary Eloise and Barbara in
an act, "The Ames Sisters" while the only brother, Frank Jr., watched on. The family moved to Nutley, New
Jersey when Margie was 10 years old. The Ames Sisters started performing in state fairs and vaudeville halls
throughout the Northeast. They tried to maintain a normal childhood while living in their home in Nutley and
attending local schools. Margie and here sisters became very close as a result of working many long and
tedious hours perfecting their act. Their schedule often included performing two or three shows a night. On
June 10, 1939, while they were on the Hudson River Show Baot docked in Hoboken to perform their acts,
Margie met the love of her life, Martin "Bud" Joseph Murphy. The story goes, that on theis day, Bud in his
inimitable manner, approached Margie and asked "how does a beautiful woman like you gave a hole in your
glove?" Margie, who would not be seen with a tattered glove, got over here initial shock and was charmed by
this fellow vaudevillian. A short while later, on September 21, 1939, after Bud borrowed the $15.00 for the
marriage license from Margie, they were married in Willow Grove, Pa. Bud had an act with his brother Frank
named "The Marcy Brothers and Beatrice". It was only a matter of time before Margie became the "Beatrice"
of the act. Although she had achieved much in her life, Margie always felt here greatest and most enduring
legacy was her family. The stories that accompany the raising of 11 children in West Milford are too
numerous t relate here, but Margie love to hear and tell the stories of here children. The stories her children
didn't want to hear were often told to here by the infamous "little bird". Margie's mystical status grew among
here young children as they tired to understand how she received such private information. It ws every
child's desire to catch this traitorous "little bird". After Bud retired from the General Electric Company in 1973,
Margie was anxious to return to the work force after 40 years of raising children. After working several other
jobs, she became the full time bookkeeper for the law firm of Johnson, Johnson & Murphy (Later named
Johnson, Murphy, Hubnere, McKeon, Wubbenhorst & Appelt). She stayed for 10 years until retiring in 1992.
She learned to work on the computer and never shied away from the challenges the job presented.
On her deathbed, Margie's greatest concern was whether she had been a good mother. The love shown by
her children and grandchildren during here last days would attest that she had nothing to worry about.
Whether you knew her as Margie, Mom, Aunt Gigi, Nana or Great-Grandma, she will live on in each of us.
She leaves behind Bud her husband of 63 years, 3 of here sisters and her brother, her 11 children, 23
grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
July, 2002

Marjorie married MURPHY Martin Joseph on 21 Sep 1939 in Hosham, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]