R. Murray Mahany – 81 – of 9696 Oak Hill Rd., Arkport, died unexpectedly early Friday morning (September 5, 2014) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
Born in Easton, ME on July 2, 1933, he was the son of Eldon & Delia (Long) Mahany.
Murray grew up in Easton, ME and was a graduate of Easton High School (class of 1950). He later attended (2 years) the University of Maine, majoring in Agriculture. He has resided in Arkport since 1952.
He has been involved in farming his entire adult life, and in a “Joint Venture” with his three sons & a son-in-law, operated Poverty Knob Farms in Arkport, raising 600 acres of potato (for potato chips); 55 acres of oats; 400 acres of wheat; 1250 acres of corn; 180 acres of green beans; 150 acres of alfalfa; which totaled 2635 total acres of crop land. He “retired” (as much as he could) in 1996.
Murray was always working for the betterment of the community. He served for about 20 years on the Dansville Town Board and served on numerous local, county & state boards. Some of these included 27 years as a member and 6 years as chairman of the Steuben County Soil & Water Conservation Dept.; 4 year director of the NYS SWCD Division IV; 1 year as president of the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Association; 1 year member of the NACD Water Resources Committee; 3 year member of the NYS Fish & Wildlife Board (Region 8); 25 year member of the Steuben County Farm Bureau; 11 year member of the Empire State Potato Growers; 3 year member of the Cornell University Foundation Seed Board; 4 year member of the ASCS; 15 year member of the WNY Potato Growers; 35 year member of the Cornell University IPM Program and 1 year member of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission.
For many years, Murray had been a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church. For the past 20 years, he was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Canaseraga. For 18 years, he was a member of the Dansville Moose Lodge and for four years he was a member of the Arkport American Legion.
Throughout the years, Murray received and/or won numerous awards, including the Goodyear Merit Award (1978 & 1988), the Steuben County C & S Leadership Award (1989), the Soil & Water Conservation Society Merit Award (1990) and in 1993 received the State of New York Governor’s Outstanding Farm Family Award presented by Gov. Mario Cuomo. Earlier this year, Murray was presented with the 2014 Empire State Potato Growers Industry Leadership Award.
He was preceded in death by his 3 brothers, Vincent Mahany, Joseph Mahany and Patrick Mahany; nieces & nephews.
Murray was married on October 23, 1954 to the former Reba Norton who survives. Also surviving are 3 sons, Robert (Debora) Mahany of Dansville, Gary (Patricia) Mahany of Arkport and Gregory (Karen Meade) Mahany of Arkport; 3 daughters, Brenda (Dennis) Acomb of Dansville, Linda (Mark) Mahoney of Hornell and Susan (Rick Wilcox) Cotter of Wayland; his son-in-law, Daniel Cotter; 2 sisters, Gertrude Thompson of Seattle, WA and Sr. Joyce Mahany of Standish, ME; 18 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, several nieces & nephews.
The family of R. Murray Mahany will receive friends on Tuesday from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church in Canaseraga. Burial will be in Heritage Hill Cemetery, Arkport, NY.
Murray’s family request that memorial contributions in his name be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
RIP Murray, you will be missed by many
We are so sorry to hear of your loss, You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Murry was an amazing friend and a great boss, working for him was always a pleasure.
So very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincere condolences to Murray’s family…I have many memories of Murray, a very hard worker , a cigar chomper, a character and a man of character you shall be missed by your community Rest In Peace
Sincere condolences to Murray’s family, he was a hard worker and a good man let him Rest In Peace!
John Senka
My sincere sympathy to the Mahaney Family. Throughout my years of serving Soil and Water Conservation Districts here in NYS, it was my pleasure in knowing and conducting business with Murray and in sharing some great stories of his. – JD.
Thinking of the entire Mahany family. So sorry about your loss. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Murray was truly one of a kind, a strong supporter of Conservation Districts and their many partners including NYACD and the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee. When I was appointed to replace Murray on the State Committee he told me, “make sure you fight to maintain the independence of this Committee.” I was always amazed at his cross country trips and looked forward to his periodic visits to our various conservation meetings. Thanks to his family for sharing him with us. He made all of our lives richer!
I was saddened to read about your lose. I recall Murray coming into Agway Energy Products, located in Arkport, when I worked there. My sincere condolences of the loss of a loving family man and community member.