Drucella Murphy

Drucella Murphy, 83, of 909 Main Street; Carrier Mills, IL died Thursday January 16, 2014 at 7:05 pm at the Harrisburg Medical Center in Harrisburg, IL. Funeral services will be held Monday January 20, 2014 at 11 am at the Carrier Mills First Baptist Church. Visitation will be held Sunday from 5 to 8 pm at Felty Funeral Home in Carrier Mills, IL. Reverend Harl Cockrum and Reverend Ryan Beck will officiate. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery in Carrier Mills, IL Memorials may be made to the Carrier Mills First Baptist Church or pledge in her name for blood donation to the American Red Cross. She was born on May 5, 1930 in Pontiac, MI to the late Calvin and Lucille (Smith) Carpenter. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 67 years whom she married on August 29, 1947; Charles A. Murphy of Carrier Mills, IL; their 2 sons: Charles L. (Maureen) Murphy and Dennis J. (Lynn) Murphy all of Harrisburg, IL; 5 grandchildren: Lori (Brian) Ivey, Brian (Emily) Murphy, Audrey (Chris) Bernard, Amy (Barry) Murphy and Ashley (Cameron Brown – fiancee~) Murphy. She has 9 Great Grandchildren: Emma, Madilyn and Walker Ivey; Maya, Tess and Ellis Murphy, Caitlyn and Lucy Bernard; Oliver Wilken and one expected in February. She has 2 step-grandchildren: Brandon (Kim) Joggerst, Angela (Michael) Ratcliff; 5 step-great grandchildren: Kaden, Kendell and Kenley Joggerst; Preston and Kennedy Ratcliff. She was preceded in death by her parents, twin sister: Luella Bryant and brother: Garry Carpenter. Drucella was born and raised in Pontiac, MI. She attended Pontiac High School. She was employed by “Ma” Bell Telephone Company as a switchboard operator and also worked for General Motors. Upon moving to Illinois in 1957 she worked as a bookkeeper at Okeefe Motors in Carrier Mills, IL, later working at BHO Motors in Harrisburg, IL before retiring from her last job as business manager of 10 years at Smith-Reynolds Chevrolet in Eldorado, IL. Drucella regularly attended and was a member of Carrier Mills First Baptist Church, which she loved dearly. She was a member of the WMU Mosaic Mission Group as well as the Daughters of Ruth Sunday School Class. Drucella was a founding member of the Michigan Club. Drucella was a matriarch with unconditional love, joy, compassion for her family and friends. Mom/Grammy was always ready to do things and go places. She was easy to get to know as well as having the ability find out a persons “life history” or so it seemed, without them realizing it. Without a doubt she was happiest when her family, especially her grand kids and great grandchildren were with her. She will be sadly missed but her memories will forever be cherished by all who knew and loved her.