Saying Goodbye to a Community Icon
Saying Goodbye to a Community Icon
Remembering Mary Jane Fox, Past Owner of “The Barn” Restaurant
Mary Jane Fox, 81, of Ellicottville passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at her son, Tim Murphy’s home, in Great Valley, NY.
Born July 25, 1943, Mary grew up in Orchard Park under the loving guidance of her parents, Fred and Tessie Noeller, who predeceased her. She is survived by her two brothers, Al (Carol) and Harold (Marty) Noeller. On Oct. 4, 1980, Mary married Leslie B. Fox, Jr., who predeceased her on Oct. 12, 2022 after 42 years of a marriage which brought great joy to her life. She would often say, “He was the love of my life,” aside from her two sons, Tim (Jennifer) Murphy of Florida, and Jim (Amy) Murphy, who reside in Texas. Mary is also survived by children Sarah and Dennis Ravenscraft, David Fox, Tim and Carolyn Fox, Kate Fox and grandchildren Conner Murphy, Faith, Samantha, Tyler and Jake Murphy, Paul Livingston, and Max and Flannery Fox, and several nieces and nephews.
Mary attended Fredonia State University, earning a teaching degree in elementary education in 1964. She taught 6th grade at Kenmore/North Tonawanda and West Seneca for five years. In those years, she married Bill Walsh who died one-and-a-half years after they were married. In 1969 she met Jack Murphy and together they purchased Bernie’s Barn on Monroe Street in Ellicottville. They married and ran the restaurant, renamed the restaurant The Barn, and had two sons, Tim and Jim. In 1976 Mary found herself running the restaurant and raising her boys on her own. One day Les Fox walked into the restaurant and in 1980 they wed, blending their families and running The Barn Restaurant together.
Mary handled the bulk of the work running the restaurant while Les worked the bar and the front room. But Mary had some ideas for her adopted community which included working with Ellicottville Central School to promote academic achievement, eventually being elected president of the community committee. She took great pride in the work the ABC (Academic Boosters Club) did, especially with the students who showed great progress, along with the more frequently recognized high achievers.
Mary was on the team and highly instrumental in the organization of the Annual Taste of Ellicottville. She continually held fundraisers for people in need, Holiday Valley, and many Ellicottville events. Although not one to toot her own horn, Mary was pleased to be chosen as a New York State Woman of Distinction in May 1998 and awarded the honor by Senator Jess Present in Albany, NY. Upon returning to Ellicottville from Florida several years ago, Mary became involved with the Ellicottville Rotary, becoming a board member and secretary. Her steadiness and organizational skills (and wry humor) will be missed.
Finally retiring from all the work and obligations, Mary and Les moved to Florida to be near son Tim and brothers, Harold and Al, and their families, only to return in 2022 for Les, who was very ill, to come home to his hometown to die. Mary then moved into her home on Sommerville Valley Road in Ellicottville, but again The Farm beckoned and she went to her eternal home from the one place she also truly called “home.”
A memorial service, jointly officiated by family friends, Pastor Josh Bower of Ellicottville, and Rev. Pam Guyatt, a priest in the Episcopalian Church in Canada, was held Tuesday, August 20th at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with many friends and family in attendance. We all rejoiced with her because that was what she wanted. We all felt sadness because she will be sorely missed. Her ashes were buried this past week with her beloved husband, Les, at The Jefferson Street Cemetery. Mary, the generous, big-hearted, fun-loving lady with multiple community projects on her plate at any given time, is now at eternal rest with her husband in the arms of her dear Lord.
Memorials in Mary’s honor may be made to Cattaraugus County Homecare and Hospice or the Rotary Club of Ellicottville.
Arrangements were made under the direction of Mentley Funeral Home, 411 Rock City Street, Little Valley, NY.