John Barry mentions in the quasi-obituary that Nolie had an "ailing heart," but Nolie did not conduct his life like a man who was ill. He and Callie had moved onto the corner five acres, as planned. They built another swimming pool, and around it they put up six small 2-1/2 room cottages, complete with kitchenettes. The new facilities became Murray's Desert Heart Motel.
Nolie was enjoying himself, and even bought a brand new Cadillac with the profits from the sale to the Bellsons. But one day, after a routine check-up for his heart condition, the doctor told him he needed to have some tests, so Nolie went to a hospital in Fontana. That was on Friday. The next day, Saturday, June 21, 1958, he returned to his hospital room following his tests, and died shortly thereafter. He was 70 years old.
Pearl Bailey was very upset when she heard the news, as she had come to admire Nolie. She and Louis were on a train going to New York when they discovered that Louis' father had died. On this same trip word came that Nolie had passed away. Soon afterwards Pearl heard that her father and brother were both gravely ill. She tells of how when the Murray's long-time chef Malcom Keyes heard of Nolie's death, he just kept on preparing food:
Not long before we left home, Mr. Murray, who sold us the ranch, had died and Mr. Keyes, who had been the chef there with Mr. Murray for eighteen or twenty years when this ranch was famous, was making biscuits when he heard of Mr. Murray's death. Mr. Murray had become very dear to us all. So when Mr. Keyes heard the news he just kept making these biscuits. Then the day that they were burying Mr. Murray, I had the phone call about my father and brother being very ill, and when we were leaving to go see about them, I said to Mr. Keyes, "No matter what happens I'll just keep on making those biscuits." |
Two funeral services were held for Nolie in Los Angeles, with hundreds of his friends in attendance. One was led, once again, by the Murrays' old friend, the Reverend Russell, now of the Church of Divine Guidance. Nolie was remembered as being a charter member of Golden West Lodge No. 83 of B.P.O.E, whose magnificent lodge building was at Jefferson and Central in Los Angeles.
Services were also held in Victorville, where Creola Banks, representing many Bell Mountain neighbors and civic groups, said, "Our Nolie loved the desert and the desert loved him. His spirit will always live on with us." Carol Thomas sang "I believe," and soon there was not a dry eye in the church. And Pearl Bailey, John Barry reported, was so overcome with emotion that she had to be carried to her car.
The pallbearers were Harry Steward, William Lewis, John Waller, Ted Smith, and Lee and William Johnson, all leading citizens of the Sidewinder/Bell Mountain community. Honorary pallbearers were Charles C. Cook, Alfred Thomas, Paul Wynn, Malcolm Keyes, and Goler V. Banks. Heaped high on the bier was a pyramid of white, purple and lavender orchids. The casket was covered with roses, and the words "Good Bye Boss" were spelled out in tiny white rosebuds. Nolie was buried at Victor Valley Memorial Park
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