Susan Murphy

Susan Kay Murphy, 68, welcomed her heavenly destiny on February 15, 2024, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer.  She was enjoying her new residency at Lakeview Village, a Christian retirement community in Carlsbad, New Mexico, when the diagnosis abruptly changed her course of life. Born January 8, 1956, the eldest offspring of Richard and Beverly Murphy, Susan/Sue grew up in Saginaw, Michigan and graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School (1974), followed by bachelor's and master's Degrees from Central Michigan University in therapeutic recreation.  She is survived by siblings Karen, Steve and Jane, and four nephews. Susan lived a naturopathic, holistic lifestyle and thrived on organic, whole food processes, along with physical activities including walking, running, bicycling and line dancing.  She endured years of mobile travel living, yet enjoyed motorcycling with her then-husband (d. 2015), and meeting new people along the way.  While she favored warm climate, settling in Arizona, her fondest years were in Austin, TX (2015-2020), which included a strong affiliation with Unity Church. Susan was cared for by loving and compassionate nursing staff at Lakeview Nursing Home, Lakeview Hospice, the Lakeview family of Colleen, Jeannie, Jody, Terry and Rick, and childhood best friend Jane Ward (Saginaw, MI), who helped her through her cancer journey.  Dale from Lakeview and Norma from El Paso, TX were a blessing to her as well. Susan rejoiced that her remains will be interned in Northwest Michigan where she had fond childhood memories with the Ward family.