Sharon Esther Murphy

This is the story of Sharon E. Murphy (born on 05.03.1939), not the obituary.  Our mother, Sharon, never liked to stay in one place for any length of time. We were blessed to have had her with us for 82 years. She has moved on once again. Sharon passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2022 surrounded by her sons, daughters and grandchildren who took care of her. She boldly faced obstacles with fiery independence. She fully embraced life.  Very proud of her Irish heritage, Sharon made four trips to Ireland.  All four trips included her clan with the final trip in 2014 for her 75th birthday that even included some of her grandchildren.  Wherever she went, she enjoyed vibrant conversation with family, friends and strangers who then became friends. Sharon was a woman who made an impact and lasting impression wherever she went.

She was the proud, youngest daughter of William "Bud" Murphy who fought for fair wages and work conditions. He was a charter member of Ford Motor Company UAW local 600 in 1938. Sharon was politically active; she campaigned for the first Irish/Catholic President, John F Kennedy; she reported on the 1967 Detroit Riots for the Dearborn Times Herald and was a first generation college graduate from George Washington University in 1981 with a degree in Public Affairs & Policy. She worked for the Army Corps of Engineers in public relations on various projects of significance including the invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1983 & Hurricane Andrew in 1995.  Sharon's final career stop was at Fort Huachuca, AZ. the "intelligence ears" of the Western Hemisphere.  Additionally, she was an avid golfer.  She NEVER retired her Walter Hagen persimmon 2 wood that now holds a spot in her son Tommy's golf bag.

Sharon was also the proud mother of 6 children (the first three, Irish triplets, born within 11 months sequentially): Kathleen "Keke", Mary Kathryn "Kate" (Mike), Kelley (Tom), Margaret "Meg", Thomas "Tommy" (Jessica), and the baby, Kevin (Sonya), all of whom carry her spirit forward.  Sharon encouraged Meg's competitive Irish dancing and also coached Kevin's youth soccer team. She had great affection for her nephews Dennis & Jimmy along with nieces Colleen, Penny (Tino), Peggy (Stan) and Sherie (John). She loved her grandchildren Patrick, Ellen, Kevin, William, Allison, Emma, Nikki, Kelly Rose, Brendan, Kylie, Jawaun, Bianca and great grandchild Brendan.  

We know she is watching out for all who she loves with a reassuring look; perhaps from the mesa, with Barney, Molly and Cooper by her side; her green beret jauntily angled on her head;  the sun shining; the breeze blowing; the clouds rolling, the smell of her favorite lilac bushes in the air. Perhaps her mother, father, brother, sister and those she loved that have passed are with her. We know that her Irish eyes are smiling, her fist is clenched and all hell is about to break loose...SLAINTE

A memorial service to honor her will be held on Saturday, May 28 at 10:30 am at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA.

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