Marcella J. Murphy

Marcella Murphy was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, as a loving daughter, mother, grandmother and wife. She loved nothing more than spending the day at the Lake Michigan beach, sand between her toes, and her beloved family by her side. Her family was always most important to Marcella, her proudest achievement, and her legacy that lives on today. Marcella's story began on a cool March day in 1939, in the little town of Chase, Michigan. Those were hopeful times in this country, which was slowly recovering from the great hardships of the Great Depression, and still a few years away from entering the fray of World War II. For many, 1939 brought signs of good things to come, especially for Carlton and Margaret (Jakeway) Burch, who celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl on March 10, a daughter they named Marcella. Marcella was one of three children in the Burch home, joining her brother Ralph and sister Sophronia. Her father was a mechanic and a carpenter, while her mother provided extra income by working as a florist. The family raised their children in the Lake Michigan shoreline towns of Pentwater and later Whitehall, and growing up near the water fostered a lifelong love for the lake in young Marcella. She spent so many sun-kissed summer days down at the beach, sitting in the sand, and playing in the waves with her friends. Marcella also enjoyed playing the piano as a young girl, and became quite a good pianist, as well. Marcella eventually graduated from Whitehall High School, and then moved south to Muskegon to attend Muskegon Business College. She earned her Associates Degree there, and then found work as a telephone operator at General Telephone in Muskegon. Soon, however, she had more than a communications career on her mind. One evening some friends set her up on a blind date with a man named Patrick J. Murphy, so she agreed to go roller skating with him. The sparks flew between them that night, and by the time the ball dropped at midnight, Marcella had a new resolution - and a new boyfriend, too! After dating for awhile, Marcella and Patrick were married on April 25, 1959, in Muskegon, beginning so many wonderful years together. The newlyweds settled into their home in Muskegon, and it wasn't long before the bride and groom became mother and father, as well. The couple was blessed with two beautiful daughters in the coming years, Jean and Julie, who filled their lives with so much happiness and fond memories. Marcella was a wonderful wife and mother, who loved nothing more than spending time with her beloved family. As busy as she was caring for their home, Marcella always found time to do things with her daughters. They did a lot as a family, too, and enjoyed traveling on vacation over the years. Truly the greatest days of Marcella's life was her wedding day and the births of her daughters. Family was so important to her, caring for them, supporting them, and helping them. She even helped Patrick at home working on creating electronic circuit boards. The times they shared working together were very precious to her. She also shared a particularly close bond with her youngest daughter Julie, and they did so much together over the years. Marcella took a great interest in her family, not just of the present, but the past, as well. One of her favorite hobbies was genealogy, and loved it for the history, and the challenge of discovering her ancestry. She looked at it like a big puzzle, and would get very excited when she located distant relatives and fit them into her family's historical puzzle. Later in life, after Patrick retired, the couple enjoyed traveling around the country and visiting their families, especially spending time with their grandsons, who were their pride and joy. Her family fondly remembers so many wonderful gatherings at the beach, Marcella's favorite place, as she curled up on the sand, a good book in her hand. Sadly, Marcella died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at the age of 68. Marcella was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life full of fun and most of all, family. Her favorite place was on the beach, toes in the sand, her beloved family by her side, watching the waves come and go. Like those waves she loved so much, Marcella is gone now, but her love, and her memory, forever remains. She will be greatly missed. Marcella is survived by her husband, Patrick; her two daughters, Jean & Joseph Corbett and Julie & Douglas Maynard; her grandsons; Travis & Ryan Maynard and Joe, John, Jim, and Jeff Corbett; multiple nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Marcella was preceded in death by her two siblings, Ralph Burch and Sophronia (Burch) Bennett. Services are scheduled for Saturday, April 7, 2007, 5:00 PM, at the Clock Chapel. Marcella's final resting place will be with her parents at Oakhurst Cemetery in Whitehall, MI. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, from 6-8 PM, at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home, 1469 Peck St., Muskegon. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Marcella, or to sign the online guest book.