Laura Ann (Gillespie) Murphy, age 67, passed away peacefully August 13, 2023 at a wonderful hospice facility in Scottsdale, Arizona following a 6 month battle with small bowel cancer. She was a 1974 graduate of Bowling Green High school. She attended Wooster College of Ohio and received her BA in Childhood Education from Bowling Green State University in 1978. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and teacher. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she opened Murphy’s Home Preschool in Arizona in 1992 and enjoyed 31 wonderful years of nurturing young children and preparing them for kindergarten in her home preschool. Upon her death her daughter Anna Murphy has followed the tradition and taken over the preschool.
She attended Shepard of the Hills church in Phoenix, AZ and truly enjoyed antique and craft shopping, a soup and sandwich lunch, vacation in northern Arizona, specifically hiking, kayaking, and relaxing and being a new grandmother. She was blessed with a granddaughter, Liana, on August 31, 2022, which was one of her proudest moments and completed her life, though cut so short.
Preceded in her death by her parents, John and Joan Gillespie, Bowling Green, Ohio. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Dennis; daughter, Anna; son, Christopher and his wife Madeleine and granddaughter Liana, as well as her sister; Linda Graham, brothers; Scott Gillespie and Brett Gillespie and numerous nephews, nieces, and friends.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the wonderful help and support offered by Laura’s family, friends, and past and present preschool parents as well as for the wonderful care given to Laura in her last moments by Hospice of the Valley, specifically the care team at The Sherman Home.
Laura requested that her Ashes be interned at the Shepard of the Hills memorial garden with a small family ceremony. A celebration of life will be scheduled in her hometown of Bowling Green for this summer and the date and location will be announced soon.
If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to Hospice of the Valley (hov.org) and condolences may be sent to Dennis Murphy at [email protected].
