Ellen Margaret (Root) Murphy, age 84, of St. Louis, Missouri passed away on the sixth of March, 2023 at Brookdale Senior Living in Ballwin.

Ellen was born on July 7, 1938 to Margaret and Lael Root in Mason City, Iowa. She was the oldest of four siblings: Thomas (Sharon), Carol Clark (Joel), and Ronald. She is predeceased by Thomas.

After Ellen graduated from Wesley High School in 1956, she went on to the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota. She had a career in microbiology at St. Luke's Hospital.

In 1958, Ellen met Richard Murphy in Winona, Minnesota. They wed on December 28, 1959.

Ellen and Richard went on to have four children, Mary Murphy, John Murphy, Anne Shaff (Victor), and Elizabeth Mosby (John). She had six grandchildren: Lauren Murphy Baker (Daniel), Nicholas and Theresa Shaff, Sarah, James, and Margaret Mosby; as well as four great grandchildren: Gray, Hayden, Oliver and Violet Baker.

Ellen was a wonderful homemaker and enjoyed cooking, crossword puzzles, golf and bridge. She loved socializing with her good friends, the Woodsmill Gang.

Mass will be held at 10am on Monday March 27, 2023, at St Monica Catholic Church. Reception immediately following at the Missouri Athletic Club West.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Humane Society, an organization Ellen felt strongly about.