G. Ferne Murphy

G. Ferne Murphy, 87, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at Stormont-Vail Health Care.

She was born September 21, 1921 in Sylvia the daughter of James and Hester Hess.  Ferne attended business school in Hutchinson.  She lived in Wichita for fifty years prior to moving to Topeka in 2003.

Ferne was a bookkeeper and was co-owner and operator of Murphy Music Service and Fireside Lanes Bowling Alley in Wichita.  In her spare time she enjoyed playing bridge and bowling.  In addition she loved music.

She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Topeka and the First Presbyterian Church while in Wichita.

Ferne was married to Chester Foxe who preceded her in death in 1944.  In 1949 she married Harold D. “Pat” Murphy.  He preceded her in death in 1982.

She is survived by her daughter Jean Murphy of Topeka, three grandchildren, Malisa Wacker of Kansas City, MO, Cathy Brake of Topeka and David Wacker of San Antonio, TX, four great grandchildren, Ashley, Riley, Emmie, and Jace, and two great-great grandchildren Brianna and Brooke.  She is also survived by three sisters, Beatrice Coverdale of Dodge City, Beulah Harkness of Hutchinson, and Grace Sutton of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Ferne will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Friday after 2:00 p.m. where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 14th at 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church where she will lie in state an hour prior to the service.  A Service will be held in the Old Mission Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel in Wichita on Saturday, February 21st, at 2:00 p.m.  Entombment will follow.

Memorial contributions are suggested in her memory to Audio Reader with the KU Endowment, Talking Books at the Topeka Public Library or to the Macular Degeneration Foundation and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 West Sixth Ave., Topeka, Kansas  66603.

The family would like to thank Stormont-Vail, Kansas Rehabilitation Hospital and especially the Palliative Care Unit for all they did for Ferne and her family.

Online condolences to www.brennanmathenafh.com.