Mary Murphy

Mary Ellen Murphy, 77, passed away on November 18, 2011. She was born on October 9, 1934, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, to H. Frank and Bertha M (Melbo) Muth. She was married to Dean P. Murphy on May 9, 1953 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Dean was her cello stand partner in The LaCrosse Symphony. Following their marriage they resided in several areas of Wisconsin including LaCrosse, Rochester and Pardeeville before settling in Racine in 1960.

Mary was an accomplished and passionate musician. She performed in the Racine Symphony Orchestra for 25 years, many of those years as the principal cellist. As a private cello teacher, she touched the lives of over 300 students, including four of her grandchildren, and one of her great-grandchildren. Mary took enormous pride in her German and Norwegian heritage, and was a very talented Norwegian rosemaling artist. She shared many of her creations with family and friends. Everyone who knew her will remember her love of coffee and chocolate!

Mary is survived by her husband, Dean; daughters, Barbara (Daniel) Drew, Catherine Ackley, Colleen Murphy and Deanne (Paul) Oberst; eleven grandchildren, Joshua Drew, Alissa Drew, Tricia (nee: Drew) (Philip Milbrath), Jaadon (Sydne) Ackley, Brandon (Caitlin) Ackley, Caren Ackley, Robin Ackley, Audra (nee: Banning) (Matthew) Rothwell, Ashley Banning, Megan (nee: Oberst) (Sean Dunk), and Marie Oberst; thirteen great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Jameson, Dayne, Taryn, Liam, Cori, Meira, Matilda, Clara, Karah, Riley, Jacob, Katie and a fourteenth (a baby girl) due in Februrary 2012.

Further survived by two sisters, Melba (Paul Wubben) of Grand Junction, CO, Carolyn (Louis) Jurisch of Marengo, IL; one brother, Douglas (Beth) Muth of Albuquerque, NM; brother-in-law, Charles Murphy of LaCrosse, WI; sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Lowell) Snyder of Emlenton, PA; and many other relatives and friends.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, H. Frank Muth and Bertha Muth;, and a sister, Barbara A. Muth.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday November 22, 2011, at 11 a.m., at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 725 High St. with Pastor Roger Black officiating. Private internment will follow at a later date. Relatives and friends can meet with the family at the funeral home on Monday, November 21, 2011, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and the church on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Memorials in lieu of flowers can be sent in Mary's name to The American Arthritis Association (Sjogren's Syndrome Research), American Heart Association, or American Cancer Society.

The family wishes to extend special thanks Nancy Anderson, Dr. Gullberg, Dr. Tierney, Dr. Choi, Dr. S. Johnson, and her "angel" from the second floor of Wheaton-Franciscan Healthcare All Saints Medical Center (you know who you are).

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888