Born Jan. 1, 1922, in Caruthersville, daughter of the late James T. and Deeda Johnson Ahern, she was an airline stewardess, involved in the Red Cross, a member of the Bridge Club, Garden Club and active in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She taught school at Caruthersville and Hayti.
She married Richard C. "Dick" Murphy, who survives of the home.
Survivors also include three daughters, Shannon Motta and husband, Len, of Chicago, Ill., Maureen Korabik and husband, Ron, of Woodstock, Ill. and Kathleen Payton and husband, Larry, of Jonesboro, Ark.; two sons, Brian Murphy and wife, Annette, of Chapel Hill, N.C. and Kevin Murphy and wife, Stephanie, of Issaquah; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Caruthersville with Father Joe Campbell officiating.
Burial was in the Little Prairie Cemetery at Caruthersville.
Pallbearers were Brian and Kevin Murphy, Len Motta, Kevin and Ron Korabik and Larry Payton.
H.S. Smith Funeral Home of Caruthersville was in charge of arrangements.
Kathy Barnes (Gillum)
I remember Mrs Murphy and that I liked taking English with her. I just didn't really want any of the other kids to know how much I enjoyed English.She always seem to be fair with us. In later years, she lived behind my mother and I remember mother telling me she regularly asked how I was.
kathy gillum
Vicky Alston (Fairey)
Mrs. Murphy was one of my favorite teachers. I thought she had a great smile and was always very nice and complimentary to me. She introduced us all to Greek mythology...I remember that we had to write a story in that style in her class, and I wrote one where the main character was a Goddess named Tulipia, and of course, her favorite flowers were tulips. It must have been so sappy, but she gave me an "E" which is what now is an "A". She had such a pretty handwriting, I thought, and sent me several cards during my son's illness, and afterwards. She always gave me a hug every time I saw her, and told me that she was praying for me. When she met my husband for the first time, she told me that she also married a California boy and brought him back to Missouri way back when! She reminded me of that through the years, and she would always tell my husband what a smart student I was. She made me feel very good about myself, and I miss her. Vicky Alston FaireyGerceida Adams (Jones)
Mrs. Murphy was a very nice teacher but students took her kindness for a weakness. They really gave her a hard time! All she wanted was for you to enjoy learning as much as she did. I liked Ms. Murphy. I hope your resting place is in heaven. You deserve it after teaching at C'ville.