Rica Suzanne Reed-Murphy Obituary (1961

Rica Suzanne Reed Murphy, a very strong and independent woman, although life dealt blows of hardship and challenges, she continuously persevered, giving back love, warmth, and strength in her marriage, family, and friends, that spirit continues to live on in all of us that knew her. She loved life and preserving life, be it a withering plant (she loved plants) or rescuing animals and giving them a home full of love and sunshine. She loved the word sunshine. She surrounded herself and her home with plaques, pictures, mementoes of faith, God, love, and family were the most important things to her. I, as her husband was fortunate, like a man searching the whole world for a precious pearl. I found that pearl and held it close to my heart for 28 years. Then, one day it slipped through my fingers into the depths of the sea. The home from which it came, nestled in the sandy sea floor surrounded by beautiful colored reefs and dolphins; which she loved. And yet again, she was like the warmth and glow of a firefly in all our hearts. To mention a few of those hearts, Hanna, her daughter; Noah and Isiah, grandsons; Rica, her mother; Debbie, sister; Chris, brother. That firefly has, now, flown all the way up to heaven and rested her wings forever, but, the warmth and glow of her life remains within us all.