Minnie Nelson Murphy 1864-1942

NELSON, MURPHY, CALHOUN, PERKINS, HOOTMAN, NAIR, MILLER

Posted By: Volunteer - Barbara Evans
Date: 11/28/2012 at 20:58:51

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obit Book B, page 11, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA

MRS. JAMES MURPHY
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Mrs. James F. Murphy passed away at her home in Vinita, Okla., Sunday morning at 10:15, Feb. 1. She was the former Minnie Nelson of this county and was the daughter of John Nelson, deceased, and sister of Mrs. O.N. Calhoun, and mother of Earl (Pat) Murphy, who were with her when death came. An obituary will be published next week.

Mrs. Earl Murphy went to Vinita, Okla., Sunday, called there by the death of her mother-in-law, Mrs. James Murphy.
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Obituary 2
MRS. JAMES F. MURPHY
Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obit Book B, page 11, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA

Minnie Georgiana Nelson Murphy was born near Mt. Zion, Iowa, June 27, 1864, and departed this life at her home in Vinita, Okla., Sunday, Feb. 1, 1942, at the age of 77 years.

Mrs. Murphy joined the Mt. Zion Presbyterian church in girlhood; she was married to James F. Murphy on Sept. 21, 1892. She came with him to Vinita in 1902, and has been a faithful member of the Presbyterian church here ever since. She was an Elder of the church from 1931 to 1938 and taught the beginners in the church school for twenty years or more. She served as president of the Ladies Aid for thirty consecutive years from Bonaparte relatives.

Mrs. Murphy was a charter member of the Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 20, of Vinita.

She was one of a family of six children, the daughter of John W. and Eliza Boner Nelson, and was preceded in death by her youngest sister, Mrs. Webb Barker of Des Moines, in 1928, and by her only brother, John E. Nelson of Mt. Zion June 1, 1936. Three sisters survive her: Mrs. Marietta Perkins of Lewiston, Idaho, Mrs. O.S. Calhoun of Birmingham, and Mrs. Nell Hootman of San Diego, Calif.

Her husband, James E. Murphy, preceded her in death March 26, 1930. Three children of this home, Earle N. Murphy of Keosauqua, Kenneth Murphy of Tulsa, Okla., and Mrs. Perry Nair of Vinita, with whom she lived, mourn her passing. She is also survived by one grandson, Duane Kenneth Murphy, and a number of nieces and nephews.

The following poem was found in her diary:
Grant me this, dear Lord, to be
Strong for tasks which fall to me;
Kind, when hunger finds my door,
Brave for all that lies before;
Grateful for thy gifts bestowed,
Patient, when my pace is slowed;
Willing, when I can, to share
Burdens grim which others bear;
Gracious, when a touch of grace
May exalt the commonplace;
Gentle always when distress
May be soothed by gentleness;
Gentle always unto thee
And the cause of liberty.

Those attending the funeral of Mrs. Murphy at Vinita, Okla., were her sister, Mrs. O.S. Calhoun of Birmingham; Mrs. Dirk Miller, a niece, of Jefferson, Iowa; and a nephew, Claude Calhoun, of Ft. Madison, Iowa.