Norma R. Murphy's Obituary
Norma R. Murphy, age 97, was taken home to her eternity in Heaven by our Lord Jesus Christ on April 16, 2022 in Fairborn, Ohio. Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. John J. Murphy; their infant son, Brian L. Murphy; her parents, Beatrice and Clarence Larson of Cadillac, Michigan; her brother Bryce and his wife Mary; her brother Vernon; her sister Geraldine and her husband Neil; and her beloved friend Vivian. Norma is survived by her two sons and their families: Dennis Murphy, his wife Susan, and their daughter Casey Murphy and her son Eric; and Gordon Murphy, his wife Ann, their daughters Kaylee and Lauren (Matt) Evans, and Lauren and Matt's son, Noah; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. After her graduation from Cadillac High School in June 1942, Norma accepted a job constructing World War 2 amphibious landing craft at the Chris Craft boat plant in Cadillac, Michigan. In September 1944, Norma enrolled at Marion College in Marion, Indiana, to study to become a teacher and athletic coach. While at Marion College, Norma was very active as a baseball and basketball student athlete, and, in her sophomore year, was honored to be selected for the College Girl's Allstar Basketball Team. Later that year, she met a young WW2 veteran, John J. Murphy, of Albion, Indiana, who was studying to be a minister at Marion College. After their marriage in August 1947 and John's graduation in 1951, John and Norma moved to Blanchard, Michigan for John's first assignment as a pastor. Norma faithfully served Christ in John's ministry and evangelism in Michigan for over thirty years as a pastor's wife, Sunday School teacher, youth ministry leader, and young adult counselor. Upon John's death in 1982, Norma was granted a Certificate of Ministry from the Church of the United Brethren in Christ to replace John as pastor of the Pleasant View United Brethren Church in rural Blanchard, serving this church as their pastor until her retirement in June 1997. In addition to her ministry, Norma also was employed as a dietician for Montcalm County, Michigan, and a store clerk and cashier in Six Lakes, Michigan. In 1969, John and Norma were honored in recognition of their community service at the Montabella High School Homecoming in Edmore, Michigan. The family would like to especially thank the staff and friends at Wickshire Senior Living (formerly The Summit and Elmcroft Senior Living) in Fairborn, Ohio, for their loving care of Norma during the final ten years of her life; the Ohio Valley Hospice for their tender palliative/respite nursing care, chaplaincy, and bereavement support in the two weeks before Mom's passing; and Brigham Funeral Chapel in Lakeview, Michigan, for coordinating Norma's final return to Michigan and planning, arranging, and conducting Norma's funeral and burial. A private family graveside service at Hillcrest Cemetery, in Six Lakes, Michigan will be held.
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