Marykaye Murphy

Always full of life, Marykaye Murphy was so loveable and amusing one couldnt help but love her. Her family and friends meant everything to her, and she enjoyed spending time with them all. Her sincere enthusiasm for and honest approach to life was contagious and it increased the lives of everyone around her. Those Marykaye leaves behind will consider themselves blessed for having been given such an extraordinary woman to have been touched by. The first years of the 1940s marked a tumultuous decade for America, as well as for the rest of the world. In Europe, fighting erupted between Allied and Axis forces and America would soon be drawn into this conflict by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. For Lloyd and Margaret (Bailey) Osborn of Belding, Michigan, however, the biggest news of 1941 was not the war, but rather the birth of their first child, daughter Marykaye, on April 15th. Marykaye was eventually joined by three younger siblings, John, Martha and Patricia. A doting big sister, Marykaye always watched out for her brother and sisters and helped them with homework while her parents both worked as educators in the area schools. Her father was a high school teacher at Midland Northeast and coached the swim team, and her mother was a teacher at Cook Elementary School also in Midland. Marykaye was always a happy, outgoing young girl, who loved music, dancing and just having a good time. She grew up in and around Belding, Lapeer and Midland; though while in high school, Marykaye contracted tuberculosis and spent many months recovery at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado. With two teachers at home, she quickly caught up with her school work and went on to graduate from Midland High School. She worked a short time at a jewelry store in Midland and attended Michigan State University prior to accepting a position with CMU in the College of Graduate Studies in 1968. By 1971, Marykaye was named Assistant to the Board of Trustees, where she dedicated her time and talents for 40 years. Aside from school and work, Marykaye also found time to fall in love. While her marriage to Charles Murphy at Blessed Sacrament Church in Midland didnt stand the test of time, they were blessed with three wonderful children together: David, John and Margaret. Still, Marykaye was a loving and devoted mother and she derived endless joy from watching her family grow and succeed. Later, when she was blessed with precious grandchildren, Marykaye poured the same amount of love into these relationships as she did with her own children. Always their #1 fan, she rarely missed attending one of her grandkids sporting events. When her children and grandchildren were little, she loved to sing silly childrens songs to them. Marykaye also enjoyed vacationing with her family, taking memorable trips to Niagara Falls and Florida. One of Marykayes most endearing traits was her wonderful fun-loving spirit. She was pretty corny and silly at times and never took life too seriously. In fact, her family said it was sometimes hard to get her to be serious. Her granddaughter Amber remembers one funny time when she was with her Grandma Marykaye at her work. They were talking away, but when Amber turned around to ask her grandmother a question, she wasnt there. Amber went behind the desk to find her grandmother on the floor laughing after falling off the chair. There were always giggles and laughter in the air when Grandma Marykaye was around! Outside of spending time with her beloved family, Marykaye liked crocheting, collecting frog artwork and anything to do with Elvis. One of her favorite pastimes was going to the lake and spending the day lounging in the sun. With a lifetime of great memories, Marykaye had a few that stood out, like when she was kissed by Wayne Newton, and she helped actor Jeff Daniels get outfitted for graduation at CMU. Yet, Marykaye always found time to give back to her community too, and used her boundless energy for the benefit of all the people around her. Over the years, she volunteered with Camp Quality and United Way of Isabella County, and was instrumental in starting the CMU Pow Wow. Marykaye was a loving, caring woman who brightened and enriched the lives of everyone around her. She will be dearly missed. Marykaye Murphy, 71, of Mt. Pleasant, MI passed away on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Her funeral will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Loren Kalinowski officiating. Burial will be in Midland Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Road on Tuesday, June 5, from 4-8 p.m. with the Vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues at the church from 9 a.m. until the service begins. Marykaye is survived by three children: Dr. David Murphy of Mitchell, IN, Dr. (Lt. Colonel) John (Caroline) Murphy of Tucson, AZ and Margaret (James) Hall of Aurora, IL; 11 grandchildren: Jasmine, Amber, Brenna, Matthew, Michael, Jonathan, Mark, Olivia, and Charlotte; three siblings, L. John (Mickey) Osborn of Perrinton, Martha (John) Huffman of Elkhart, IN and Patricia (Greg) Osborn-Apkarian; and nieces and nephews, Christina, Jennifer, Justin, Joseph, Daniel and Anthony. Memorial contributions may be made to United Way of Isabella County, 311 W. Broadway #4, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858.