Madalin Murphy

Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Madalin Murphy

Madalin C. Murphy, 66, of Mountain Home, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, at a Boise hospital, following a 10-year battle with cancer.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the First Congregational Church in Mountain Home. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

Madalin was born one of four children to Frank Ernest Van Epps and Tina Edna Lattimore Van Epps. While living in rural Todd County, South Dakota, she attended country schools from the first through the eighth grade and in 1959 graduated from high school in Winner, S.D. By May of 1961 Madalin had completed a two-year teaching degree from the Black Hills Teacher's College in Spearfish, S.D.

Madalin moved to Mountain Home by August of 1961 to pursue her love of teaching and by Nov. 21, 1962, Madalin had met and married "the love of her life," James Patrick Murphy.

Although Madalin continued teaching for several years, she also spent a 12-year period working for Herron Insurance Agency. She also spent some time at home raising her three daughters.

Madalin was a very involved member in the community. She served as a dedicated member of the Elkettes, The First Congregational Church, and was a retired member of the NEA. Through those memberships she received several awards and numerous forms of recognition.

Madalin is survived by: her daughters, Kelli and her husband, Jake Germeraad, Dana and her husband, Jan Jackson, and Diane and her husband, Brian Curtis; five grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; her brothers, Eugene, and his wife, Gay Van Epps, and Vernon and his wife, Jean Van Epps; her sister, Sharon, and her husband, Robert Ring; three nieces and one nephew and her "special cousin and friend," Mary Ellen Gross.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Elks Rehabilitation Hospital, Pediatric Ward, 600 N. Robbins Rd., Boise, ID 83702, or MSTI-Pediatric Ward, 100 E. Idaho St., Boise, ID 83712.