95516: Jean Murray

Sìne Iain Mhurchaidh Nèill

Jean (1921-1999) was the daughter of John Murray and Christina Maciver of 71 North Tolsta.

At Stornoway Free Church, in 1947, she married Murdo Morrison, 24 Bayhead, Street, Stornoway. Jean and Murdo settled at Portrona Drive, Stornoway. They had six children: five boys and a girl.

Jean was widowed in 1984.

When Jean inherited 71 North Tolsta, from her brother John, she passed this to a son who sold the croft but retained a feu. In due course the house on Portrona Drive passed to one of her other sons.

In 1998 the Irish Government decided to award valour medals to all the seamen who lost their lives in the Irish Merchant Navy during the Second World War. Alexander was one of four Scottish seamen serving on Irish vessels. In 1999 the then Irish Ambassador to the UK, Daniel Mulhall, visited Alexander's closest surviving relative, Mrs Jean Morrison, in Stornoway and presented her with the medal and a certificate. In 2018 her son donated the medal to the North Tolsta Historical Society. The medal has three bars which indicates service of more than six years.