Marjie Murphy

Marjie Lou (Marjie) Murphy died December 3, 2024, at Brookstone Village, a senior living facility in Omaha, Nebraska where she had resided for nearly two years. Marjie was born October 31, 1921, in San Pedro, California, the first born of the seven children of Charles Louis and Fairby Truth (Frazier) King. The young family, now numbering four, relocated to the Sandhills of Nebraska and started farming operations where the other siblings were born and raised.

Marjie attended local one-room schools and graduated from high school in Callaway, Nebraska. Shortly after graduation she, with her sister Nancy, left home to attend cosmetology school in Hastings, Nebraska. While attending and graduating school she worked as a waitress at a local ethnic restaurant for her room and board and impressed her customers by her ability to balance numerous piping hot plates of food. 

Nancy and Mom went on double dates during war time and that led to their meeting two young Army Air Corp officers. Both couples eventually married and that was the beginning of Marjie’s sixty-year love affair with Captain Delmar Leo Murphy, who preceded her in death on August 25, 2004. They formed a wonderful faith-based marriage and were an inspiration to family and friends. 

Marjie and Delmar were fervent Roman Catholics; she a convert. They were active in every aspect of parish life at St. Philip Neri in North Omaha, where they practiced their faith for nearly seventy years. Marjie was affectionately referred to as “The Church Mouse” and “The Sunshine Lady” for her ever present role in handling parish duties, such as organizing the thrift store, sending cards to hospitalized and sick parishioners, arranging flowers and candles, sometimes standing on the high altar to do so and burning old palms for Ash Wednesday ashes. 

She was twice named Woman of the Year as St. Philip Neri’s representative in the Omaha Archdiocese award recognition.

Marjie is survived by her three children and their families, Patrick (Dorothy) Murphy, Cleo (Ed) Lamoureux, and Mitchell (Jeanne) Murphy. Grandchildren include Kevin (Leann) Murphy, Jennifer (Jason) Schumann, Mathieu (Jennifer) Lamoureux, Renee (Tyler) Yost, Marc Lamoureux, Alycia (Jon) Shields and Alex (Kelley) Murphy. 

There are nine great grandchildren: Zachary, Kate, Colin, Leah, Keira, Holden, Holly, Ava and Addison. 

She is survived by siblings Nancy McClean, Gloria Brookman (Rich), Jeanne Hulsebus and sister-in-laws Correne Murphy and Sarah King. Special friends also include Carol Murphy, Rosemary Reeves, Jack Maxwell and Kara Allen. She is predeceased by husband Delmar, parents Charles Louis and Fairby Truth (Frazier) King, brothers Chuck and Rodney King and sister Valaretta Ronhovde. 

Marjie’s Requiem Catholic funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Philip Neri at 10:00 AM on Thursday, December12, 2024. Visitation, for 60 minutes in the church, will precede the Mass. The church is located at 8200 North 30th Street, Omaha Nebraska 68112. 

The funeral Mass will be live streamed for those unable to attend. Follow the link below to connect to the live streamed service. 

Link to livestream

A luncheon in the church undercroft will follow the Mass. Burial ceremonies, limited to family members, will be conducted at Calvary Cemetery following the luncheon. 

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Philip Neri Church.