Mary Rule Murphy

MRS. MARY RULE MURPHY February 11, 1935-December 10, 2010 Mrs. Mary R. Murphy, age 75, of Griffin, passed peacefully away Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, at Metropolitan Hospice in Atlanta. Mary was born on February 11, 1935 in Hobart, Oklahoma to the late Margaret Bowman Rule and the late James Landon Rule. Mary graduated Muskogee, OK High School where she was a cheerleader. She attended the Univ. of Oklahoma and graduated the Univ. of South Florida with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education and graduated Georgia State Univ. with a Master’s Degree in Special Education. Mrs. Murphy taught at Crescent Road Elementary School and Jackson Road Elementary School in the Griffin-Spalding County School System. She was next appointed Director of Special Education for Pike, Upson, and Lamar Counties. Her career continued at the GA Department of Education in Atlanta, GA where she retired as Coordinator of Special Education. Mrs. Murphy was devoted to her husband of 56 years, her family, and helping disadvantaged children. She enjoyed quilting, music, playing the piano and organ, serving as a team mother for youth sports and walking on a regular basis with her husband or friends. She also liked traveling and going to the beach. She was a life-long member of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Murphy was preceded in death by her daughter, Kathy Murphy Terrell and husband Mark K. Terrell. She is survived by her husband, Walter H. Murphy, daughter Melinda A. Dollar and husband Cary; son Charles L. Murphy and wife Elizabeth; son Thomas E. Murphy and wife Georgia; son Michael W. Murphy and wife Sally; 9 grandchildren: Mark L. Terrell, Joe C. Dollar and wife Beth, Eric Dollar, David Murphy, Paul Murphy, Alex Murphy, Landon Murphy, Caitlin Murphy, and Meghan Murphy; 2 great-grandchildren: Gambler Dollar and Benjamin Dollar. She is also survived by her sister Ann Coleman and husband Walter and her brother James L. Rule and wife Lynda Martin; sister-in-law Pauline Sarkany and Husband Frank. Other survivors include many nieces and nephews. Memorial services for Mary will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church. The Reverend Nancy DeLane Shepherd, Rector will officiate. Friends may visit at the family home following the service at 133 Maplewood Drive. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Emory Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (med.emory.edu/ADRC/)

Mary Rule Murphy

February 11, 1935 - December 10, 2010