Rita Mae Murphy

Rita Mae Murphy, 66, of Coal Valley, Illinois, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 23, 2003. She had been hospitalized at Genesis Medical Center-West Campus, Davenport, Iowa. Services will be 10:30 AM on Monday at First Presbyterian Church of Coal Valley, where she was a member. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. Entombment will be in Greenview Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. East Moline, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Oak Glen Nursing Home, Coal Valley or to First Presbyterian Church, Coal Valley. The former Rita Mae Graver was born July 5, 1937 in Ewing, Nebraska, the daughter of Max and Hilda (Gunter) Graver. She graduated in 1955 from Winola High School, then worked her way through Moline Public Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1958. During this time she met the love of her life, John J. Murphy at a nursing school dance. They married on October 19, 1958 in New Windsor, Illinois. Rita worked in the maternity ward at Moline Public Hospital until she took time out to raise a family. She then finished her nursing career at Oak Glen Nursing Home in Coal Valley. Rita cherished her family with all her heart, pouring out her kindness and love and always helped nurture those around her. She volunteered through her church at Oak Glen Nursing Home, and took special care of her friend Crystal Davis. She enjoyed reading, playing cards, watching Christian television, eating out weekly with her lunch bunch, and doing crafts with her Crafty Critters. Her survivors include; her husband, John "Jack" Murphy of Coal Valley, three daughters and a son-in-law, Debbie and Jim Quillin of Coal Valley, Mary Murphy of Chicago, and Kelly Murphy of Coal Valley, a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Lorrie Murphy of Moline, four beloved grandchildren, Jim, Josh, and Jessica Quillin, and Jessica Hines, a great-granddaughter, Tayler Gilmore, two sisters and brothers-in-law, Loretta and Dave Barton of New Windsor, and Linda and Cliff Montgomery of Woodhull, a brother, David Graver of Moline, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, and special friends, Crystal Davis of Coal Valley, and Yvonne Price of Bettendorf, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Dennis Graver, nephew, Shawn Montgomery, a son, Patrick, who died before birth, and special friends, Suzie Murphy, and Gloria Day.