Marlyn Mae Moore "Morey" was born to Rhoda Esther (Johnson) and John Ezra Moore on March 1, 1928, in Gettysburg, SD. She entered eternal life on May 10, at Promise Hospital in Mesa, AZ.

Marlyn was the second born of 4 children. She was in a 3-way tie for valedictorian of her 51-member graduating class in Gettysburg High School in 1946. After graduation she attended Wheaton College, in Wheaton, IL, her freshman year in 1947-48. She spent her sophomore year in Wessington Springs and later acquired her BS degree in Elementary Ed and English from DSU (General Beadle College) in Madison, SD in 1968. She went on to earn her master's degree from USD in Elementary Ed. and earned her secondary degree from SDSU by 1980. Marlyn was a member of Delta Sigma Delta, Phi Kapa Delta, SDEA, NEA, Hot Springs & Sturgis Senior Citizens Centers.

While she was finishing elementary and high school, Francis N. Murphy fought in WWII and then attended SDSU, serving as Student Body President. At some point, Marlyn had grown up and caught his eye. Their families' homes were side by side. They married on December 18, 1949, in the Methodist Church in Gettysburg, SD. Antoine Myers officiated. They moved to Philip, SD, where they started a family and taught school. They welcomed Marletta Marie in 1955, Sandra June Trudy, and Debra Kay Judy, in 1957, and Francis John "Jack" in 1959. Marlyn taught piano lessons and then started teaching 2 ^nd grade when Jack was 2. In 1964, they moved to Madison where their youngest child, Patricia Daisy, joined the family in 1966.

Marlyn taught school for 32 years in Philip, West Central Humboldt, Pierre (country school), Gettysburg, Hoven Catholic School, and Allen on Pine Ridge IR. She was principal of Whitewood & Meade Rural School in 1981-1983. She served as President of West Central Education Assoc. and was a member of Women's Extension Club. Morey enjoyed buying, selling and renting homes. She was adventuresome and enjoyed her travels to Rome, The Holy Land, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Greece, and cruises to Alaska, and the Bahamas. After Francis "Knute" died in 2003, she wintered every year either in Georgia, Alabama, Las Vegas, Florida, Seattle, California, Mississippi, as well as in Mesa, AZ. She had family she'd spend time with at each location.

She enjoyed bible studies at the Methodist, Wesleyan, and Presbyterian churches in Sturgis as well as singing with the choirs of churches she attended in Sturgis and Hot Springs. In the 50s & 60s, she played the piano at the Presbyterian church in Philip where she and Knute also taught Sunday School. Besides church, her main contributions were charitable gift annuities to ministries, universities, Salvation Army, and St. Joseph Indian School. She was a member of NEA, extension clubs, United Way, and other outreach organizations. Her spiritual breakfasts were from Joel Osteen & Joyce Meyers broadcasts on TV.

She took much pride in the honor her family received from Dakota State University for the Alumni Association Outstanding Alumnus Award. It was to the Marlyn Murphy Family as 6 of us graduated from DSU. She also took great pride in Knute's rising to the National President of the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association. She was proud of her family's achievements that included the National Teacher Award (Milken), induction into the DSU Athletic Hall of Fame, Teacher of the Year awards, as well as her son-in-law becoming South Dakota's Lt. Governor and more. She loved attending any function for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Marlyn's traits were independence, adventure and generosity, all she'd say she inherited from her parents. She loved music and was quick to laugh and had a great sense of humor accompanied with quick wit. She was very frugal at times having lived through the Dirty Thirties. But when she had the means, she was very generous to those who she believed were in need.

She is survived by daughters: Marletta (Roger) Eich, Sandra (Larry) Rhoden, Debbie (Leo) Schnell, and Trish (Jerry) Grouzis; and one brother, Tom (Kathy) Moore; ten grandchildren, Austin (Shari), Paul (Heather) Eich, Jesse (Sarah), Cody (Liz), Reggie (Jenny), and Tristen (Kalen) Rhoden, Jenny Spring, Cory Schnell, Adam Murphy, and Dylan Grouzis; fifteen great-grandchildren; and many special nieces and nephews.

Marlyn was preceded in death by her husband, Francis N. Murphy, her son, Francis John "Jack" Murphy, her parents, sister, Louetta Head, and brother, Jack Moore.

Visitation will be held Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, SD, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 22, 2023, at LifeSpring Wesleyan Church in Sturgis at 10:30 a.m.  Burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in June in Sioux Falls.

A memorial has been established to Union Center Baptist Church and LifeSpring Wesleyan Church.

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