Ruby Murphy Obituary
Ruby Dell Cox Murphy passed peacefully on January 31st in the early morning hours, as the super blue moon coursed across the sky.
Ruby Dell was born on March 13, 1938, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Doris Alice Danielson Cox and John Steven Cox. She is the beloved wife of Eugene Murphy - their love story lasted more than sixty years. She is survived by him and their three children, Dawn Hawks, of Metaline Falls, Washington, Daryl Murphy of Hawthorne, New Jersey, and Sandra Murphy-Pak of Gainesville, Florida. A loving grandmother to twelve grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, she is also survived by her brother David Cox and his wife Barbara, a dear sister and friend, her beloved sister Debra Cox and her partner Phyllis Prekopka, and Judy Cox, also a dear sister and friend. She has sixteen nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Ruby had many friends who made her life special: in Idaho, at the Moose Lodge of West Melbourne, where she enjoyed a wonderful social life, through her teaching career, and within the Melbourne community.
She was an exceptional human being who was creative to the core while remaining a scholar at heart. She exemplified good nature, kindness, patience, thoughtfulness, compassion, and good humor; the best of mothers, introducing nature, the arts, and music to her children, teaching them to be joyful and to look at the world with wonder and interest, endowing them with an internal sense of happiness.
Education was her passion. She taught special education at Meadowlane Elementary and Turner Elementary Schools, a true advocate for her students, going above and beyond to meet individual needs.
Outside of work, Ruby was physically active, winning trophies and medals for her athletic endeavors. Athleticism came naturally to her. At her childhood home, she would walk up and downstairs on her hands-in handstand mode!
She had a strong sense of adventure and loved traveling the country with Gene and her children. In her most recent years, she and Gene enjoyed their annual cross country trips to their home in Idaho, taking in and appreciating the splendor that lay before them on the open road. Together they lived life off the beaten path, always taking 'the road less traveled'.
Ruby was a dear, angelic soul who will be missed by her family and friends, and all who had the gift and pleasure of knowing her. A truly beautiful woman both inside and out.
