Nan R. Murphy

On April 16, 2021, Nan Reaph Murphy 98, passed away peacefully at home. Nan was born on Valentine's Day, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the only child of Florence (Mahrer) and Edward Reaph. Nan grew up in Philadelphia and spent summers at her grandparents' home in New Jersey and the Jersey shore.

Nan married Frank Charles Murphy on September 23, 1946 in State College, Pennsylvania. Over the years they moved from Pennsylvania to New Jersey to Ohio and finally to Davenport, Iowa, growing their family of nine children along the way. Once their youngest child started school, Nan worked as a secretary at Sacred Heart's rectory for 24 years. Nan was a dedicated volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels, Respite, SHC Clothing Center and Geneses Hospital well into her 80's.

Nan brightened everyone's day with her vibrant smile, contagious laugh and sense of humor. Apart from her love of chocolate, Nan loved music, dancing, swimming, Cubs' games, and her morning coffee group. She enjoyed trips to visit her children and grandchildren, up and down the California coast, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and Florida.

Nan will be dearly missed by her children: Anne, Michael, Maureen (Matt) Mooney, Eileen, Kathleen (Francis Whitebloom), Colleen (Peter Crampton), Sharon, KellieAnn, Matthew (Amy Hammes), her 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her husband Frank, sons-in-law, Dave Jasper, Doug Devine, former son-in-law, Rod Craig.

A funeral mass will be scheduled at a later date at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Burial will be at the Rock Island National Cemetery.

Our family gives special thanks to Maureen and Colleen. Their care and support allowed Mom to live her last year at home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Nan's name to Sacred Heart Cathedral Foundation https://shcdavenport.org or Genesis Hospice https://www.genesishealth.com/care-treatment/hospice/

Condolences may be expressed at CremationQC.com