Edna Marion Murphy (nee Michel) passed away of natural causes on January 9, 2024 surrounded by her children and son-in-law at the age of 94.

She was born on June 22, 1929, in the country outside Branson, Missouri to Myrtle Cora Mae Michel (nee Van Zandt) and Richard Frederick Michel. She was the oldest of four siblings and was raised to take care of others, whether it be her siblings, her children, or the patients she cared for in the several nursing homes in which she worked as a registered nurse. She graduated from Mountain Grove Elementary School, a one room schoolhouse which her father participated in building, and then Branson High School as valedictorian. After a few semesters of college, she decided that her talents were best utilized as a nurse, and she entered St. John's Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield, MO, from which she graduated as an RN in 1952.She moved to St. Louis soon after as she was always drawn to the city. Over the years she had positions of authority in nursing homes including Director of Nursing. She was a compassionate and respectful caregiver to her patients.

Edna was a lifelong reader and learner. She was especially curious about the natural world. She grew up walking in the woods and climbing trees. She wanted to do all the outdoor activities that her brothers enjoyed. She wanted to travel so she enlisted as a nurse in the US Air Force with which she was stationed in France and was able to travel to other European countries. She was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1957. All her life she took great pride in her military service.

On November 1, 1958, she married Robert Joseph Murphy. They enjoyed 25 years of marriage until his untimely death on January 31, 1984.They had three children over which she was highly protective, and the instinct to protect and care for her children never left her, even when her children were well into adulthood. She was a no-nonsense and pragmatic person but never hid her love of shopping, especially to acquire shoes, purses, and scarves. She passed that passion on to her two daughters.

Edna is survived by her three children, Michel and Dan, who reside in St. Louis County and Marilyn, with her husband David Katz, who live in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Along with three step-grandchildren, Erin, David, and Daniel Katz. Also surviving area sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pearl and Ed Cavin, brother-in-law Grady Hagler, and nieces and nephews Mark, Scott, and Todd Michel, Lynne Irons, Diana Williamson, Judd Hagler, Jill Kertz, Terry, Patrick, and Michael Cavin, Maureen Murphy, and Colleen Fehl.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, brothers Robert (Betty), and Van (Charlotte), and sister June Hagler as well as sister-in-law Helen Murphy and brother-in-law Jim Murphy (Dorothy). She was saddened by the recent loss of her nephew Keith Michel, with whom she shared an interest in family history and service in the Air Force. She was also predeceased by nieces and nephews Kim and Brian Michel, Tim Murphy, Dennis Cavin, and Loni Gillooly.

Services will be at Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur on Friday, January, 12. Visitation at 11 am and funeral at 12 noon. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Lucas and Hunt Rd., St. Louis, with her husband Robert Murphy.

Many thanks to Breeze hospice for their care. In lieu of flowers please contribute to the Alzheimer's Association.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home   www.osfuneralhomes.com