Mary A. Murphy

Mary Lucille Acree Murphy passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, June 2, 2013, in Centennial, Colorado at the age of 95 years and 11 months. Mary was born on June 27, 1917 to James Walter and Wilhelmina Emilie Caroline (Sachse) Acree in McAlester, Oklahoma, where she was raised. After graduation from high school in 1935, she went to the University of Oklahoma where she met her future husband, Thomas J. Murphy. They were married on September 19, 1938 in Spokane, WA and spent the first year of their 65-year long marriage in various Civilian Conservation Corps camps in the general vicinity of Coeur d'Alene, ID, where Mr. Murphy was a U.S. Army officer. Next, they moved to Fort Bragg, NC for a year, followed by a dream assignment to Hawaii beginning in late 1940. Unfortunately, the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, led to other plans as Tom remained in the Pacific for the duration of the war and Mary & their 3-month old daughter were evacuated back stateside. Nevertheless, Tom & Mary loved Hawaii and they returned there often until Tom's health prevented travel. After WWII ended, they left the army and moved to Chicago, IL for four years before settling in Denver with their five children in 1950. After Tom's retirement, they resumed their travelling with frequent trips. Among their favorites were freighter cruises around the world, of which they had several, and military space-a trips to 'wherever' (they would go to the Air Force base and take the first overseas flight that had available seats). Their stories on travel were endless and made more entertaining because Tom & Mary often disagreed as to where each picture was taken and where each story occurred. As they became unable to travel, both continued to travel 'in their minds' with many beautiful memories. Mary was predeceased by her husband of 65 years and her daughter, Margaret K. Broughton. She is survived by four children and their spouses Mary Ann Hillman (Rich), Thomas J. Murphy (MaryAnn), Carolyn S. Blecha (Tom) and Robert C. Murphy (Donna), thirteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss her greatly. A private memorial service will be scheduled for a future date; burial will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice. Please share your memories of Mary and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.