Marilyn Murphy

A FEW MEMORIES.

As a college Freshman, I lived at home. My first year of living with housemates was Sophomore year. Friday, February 26, the day before my 41st birthday, I learned one of my housemates, a dear fraternity sister, and friend passed away after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. I had wonderful housemates. I miss you Marilyn.

Marilyn was a Senior the year I moved into the house with her, Monica, and Karen. I looked up to all of them. They were all bright, talented, and fun to be around. As fraternity sisters in Sigma Alpha Iota, Marilyn, Monica, and I were together often for functions within the fraternity, but perhaps most of our bonding time as housemates came while in the little living room on the second floor of 609 S. High.

Sitting on our plaid couch, we watched Bill Clinton play his saxophone, and we all knew he would be the coolest president ever (that was then). Our house was the hosting place of many band lectures. Our lectures were always very well attended, and for a bratty underclassman like me, that meant a wonderful opportunity to experience traditions of all kinds. Enough said.

I learned something valuable from every one of them.

A few things I learned from Marilyn stand out. She introduced me to the music of Boston (I was sheltered!), and I still think of her when I hear More Than A Feeling. It was Marilyn who decided to improve our living room walls by checking out different works of art from the campus library, (NMSU, now Truman State) and telling us what they were and who painted them. I can still see the Degas hanging in our cheaply-decorated living room, and I never see it without thinking of her. The only thing I brought to the mix was a music stand and the TV. Marilyn seemed to have a spirit “self-improvement”. She not only worked hard at maintaining her own appearance, but the appearance of our little apartment. I think she really enjoyed helping others learn and grow. If she was stretching or exercising in the living room floor, she was explaining what she was doing and why.

In the empty lot next to our house was where we sometimes sunbathed. Other college students sometimes used “our” lot. On one such occasion, the kids were playing a ball game, and blaring their music loudly. Obnoxious! I don’t remember who’s idea it was for sure, but we decided to play some opera music – very loud opera music  – out our window to show our disapproval of their use of “our” lot and their loud music. I still laugh when I think of it.

She was an inspiration.

At the end of that school year, Marilyn graduated. We all moved from “The Aquarium”. Marilyn went on to graduate school. All of us eventually lost touch. Within the last couple of years, through FaceBook, Monica and I have reconnected, as well as Karen. This summer, Monica and Marilyn got together. While at Monica’s house, the two of them called me, and we got to talk and reminisce just a little. I had hoped that one day, we could all get together in Kirksville and have a reunion. God had other plans, and to them we must submit. Though I haven’t seen her in years, Marilyn is still an influence in my life through all I learned while living on the corner of Normal and High.

Marilyn Elizabeth Murphy
Visitation: Friday, March 5, 2010 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM Winfield-Evans-McCleery Funeral Home 202 E. Washington Knoxville, IA 50138 Service: Saturday, March 6, 2010 11:00 AM Collins Christian Church Collins, IA 50055
Marilyn Elizabeth Murphy was born on August 11, 1967 in Des Moines, Iowa to John Edward and Carolyn Jean (Polito) Murphy. She was the first of three children. Marilyn was raised in Knoxville and graduated from Knoxville High School, class of 1985. After high school she graduated from Truman University majoring in music. She received her graduate degree in music from Arizona State University. After college Marilyn joined the Peace Corps and lived in Guatemala helping families for three years. She moved to Des Moines and worked for Latino Affairs. After two years she moved to Ecuador. She lived in Ecuador for five years helping the Peace Corp. Since 2005 Marilyn has been working for Heifer International and she was also a certified Yoga instructor. Marilyn was currently in the process of moving to Ames, Iowa. Marilyn passed away on Friday, February 26, 2010 at her sister’s home in Ames at the age of 42 years, six months, and 15 days. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Paul and Hannah Murphy, and her grandfather, Paul Vander Linden. Marilyn is survived by her parents, John and Carolyn Murphy of Knoxville; grandmother, Betty Vander Linden of Ames; one brother, Patrick (CeAnn) Murphy of Juneau, Alaska; and one sister, Dianna (Dan) Jordan of Ames. Marilyn is also survived by three nephews, Craig, Nicholas, and Joseph Jordan. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, March 6th, at Collins Christian Church of Collins, Iowa, with Pastor Scott Jones officiating. A private family burial will be held at Little Flock Cemetery in rural Knoxville at a later date. A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., Friday, March 5th, at the Winfield-Evans-McCleery Funeral Home in Knoxville. A rosary, will be led at 6:00 P.M., also on Friday at the funeral home. Marilyn’s family will greet friends from 6:30 P.M., until 9:00 P.M. A Memorial have been established to the Peace Corp. partnership program concerning Guatemala and Ecuador, orps.gov, or to the Young Survivors coalition, www.youngsurvival.org\donate.