Mera Larie Murphy Stoll, passed away early Saturday, October 7, 2017. She was known as Larie to most, Sis to her brothers and their families, and Murph to her long-time friends. She was born in Wolf Creek, Montana, April 30, 1935, the third child and only daughter of John and Matilda Murphy. She spent her childhood on the family ranch near Wolf Creek and moved to Helena as she entered her teen years.
She was admittedly more suited to city living. She thrived once she made roots in Helena, making quick friends with several other smart, witty, and fun-loving girls. Although they weren't able to get together often once they started their families, she treasured their friendships always. She often recalled fond memories of those years, especially working aside many of them at the Marlow Theater.
She met Dad, Thomas Eugene Stoll, in 1952 while he was in town looking for a hydroplane engine. They met on a blind date set up by mutual friends, Bill and Leona Johnston. The match worked. They married in February 1954, welcoming the first four of their six children in the first five years of their marriage. Their only son was born in 1961. Another daughter arrived in 1967.
Like most women of her generation, her life changed dramatically once she and Thomas started their family. She left the fun-loving, carefree teenaged days of the early 1950s and entered the unknown world of mother and wife. They shared family responsibilities with traditional, well-defined and successfully executed roles. Mom took on everything domestic. She was cook, housekeeper, seamstress, hairdresser, money manager, purchaser, nurse, educator, events organizer and activities director, carpenter, roofer, stonemason, gardener, disciplinarian, troubleshooter, and always, the final say on all things domestic.
She also kept the books for many small businesses in the Helena area while she was raising her family. Among them were the Union Market and Curry's Appliances. The kitchen table transformed between meals with stacks and stacks of the receipts and other important financial papers.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one's interests, she was a masterful multitasker. Her personal strength and authoritative nature were sharp and deceptive contrasts to her diminutive stature and China doll looks. She learned to easily control her large brood as well as the crowds of kids who accompanied them most afternoons between the end of the school day and dinnertime. (The family home was located midway between Helena's senior and junior high schools.) She ran rough shod over all of them, giving directions and correcting bad behaviors without missing a beat, whether she was roofing the house or burning up the calculator.
Larie was an intelligent, strong-willed, and opinionated woman. She insisted her children gain an understanding of and appreciation for world, national, and local events. She served family dinners with a course of spirited debate over the hot-button political issues of the day. Few agreed with her views, but that was usually okay with her. It was the debate she craved.
She held strong political convictions throughout her life. She served as precinct committee woman for the Republicans in the early 1960s. She repurposed her Avon sample case and commanded nine-year old Linda to shower central Helena with "Babcock for Governor" and "Goldwater for President" campaign literature. In 1993, as she was preparing to undergo major surgery, she insisted her waiting family watch C-SPAN. She wanted us to report the outcome and details of the upcoming NAFTA vote the moment she regained consciousness.
When Thomas retired from state government in 1981, they both went to work part-time for Luxan and Murfitt. They enjoyed their "ideal jobs" there for another 10 years before finally retiring in the early 1990s.
Her health began to deteriorate after her 1993 spinal cord surgery. Over the next several years, she suffered a series of strokes and injuries causing progressive cognitive and physical disabilities. Thomas was her constant caregiver, a role he was reluctant to give up even when they moved to the Waterford in 2009. When he passed away in 2012, she moved to the Rosetta House.
Larie was predeceased by her parents, John and Matilda Murphy; her brothers Earl and Bob Murphy; Thomas E. Stoll, her husband of 58 years; and her only son, Thomas E. Stoll, Jr. She is survived by five daughters, her six gifted grandchildren and her four beautiful great-granddaughters.
Complete obituary published in Independent Record on Oct. 11, 2017
She was admittedly more suited to city living. She thrived once she made roots in Helena, making quick friends with several other smart, witty, and fun-loving girls. Although they weren't able to get together often once they started their families, she treasured their friendships always. She often recalled fond memories of those years, especially working aside many of them at the Marlow Theater.
She met Dad, Thomas Eugene Stoll, in 1952 while he was in town looking for a hydroplane engine. They met on a blind date set up by mutual friends, Bill and Leona Johnston. The match worked. They married in February 1954, welcoming the first four of their six children in the first five years of their marriage. Their only son was born in 1961. Another daughter arrived in 1967.
Like most women of her generation, her life changed dramatically once she and Thomas started their family. She left the fun-loving, carefree teenaged days of the early 1950s and entered the unknown world of mother and wife. They shared family responsibilities with traditional, well-defined and successfully executed roles. Mom took on everything domestic. She was cook, housekeeper, seamstress, hairdresser, money manager, purchaser, nurse, educator, events organizer and activities director, carpenter, roofer, stonemason, gardener, disciplinarian, troubleshooter, and always, the final say on all things domestic.
She also kept the books for many small businesses in the Helena area while she was raising her family. Among them were the Union Market and Curry's Appliances. The kitchen table transformed between meals with stacks and stacks of the receipts and other important financial papers.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one's interests, she was a masterful multitasker. Her personal strength and authoritative nature were sharp and deceptive contrasts to her diminutive stature and China doll looks. She learned to easily control her large brood as well as the crowds of kids who accompanied them most afternoons between the end of the school day and dinnertime. (The family home was located midway between Helena's senior and junior high schools.) She ran rough shod over all of them, giving directions and correcting bad behaviors without missing a beat, whether she was roofing the house or burning up the calculator.
Larie was an intelligent, strong-willed, and opinionated woman. She insisted her children gain an understanding of and appreciation for world, national, and local events. She served family dinners with a course of spirited debate over the hot-button political issues of the day. Few agreed with her views, but that was usually okay with her. It was the debate she craved.
She held strong political convictions throughout her life. She served as precinct committee woman for the Republicans in the early 1960s. She repurposed her Avon sample case and commanded nine-year old Linda to shower central Helena with "Babcock for Governor" and "Goldwater for President" campaign literature. In 1993, as she was preparing to undergo major surgery, she insisted her waiting family watch C-SPAN. She wanted us to report the outcome and details of the upcoming NAFTA vote the moment she regained consciousness.
When Thomas retired from state government in 1981, they both went to work part-time for Luxan and Murfitt. They enjoyed their "ideal jobs" there for another 10 years before finally retiring in the early 1990s.
Her health began to deteriorate after her 1993 spinal cord surgery. Over the next several years, she suffered a series of strokes and injuries causing progressive cognitive and physical disabilities. Thomas was her constant caregiver, a role he was reluctant to give up even when they moved to the Waterford in 2009. When he passed away in 2012, she moved to the Rosetta House.
Larie was predeceased by her parents, John and Matilda Murphy; her brothers Earl and Bob Murphy; Thomas E. Stoll, her husband of 58 years; and her only son, Thomas E. Stoll, Jr. She is survived by five daughters, her six gifted grandchildren and her four beautiful great-granddaughters.
Complete obituary published in Independent Record on Oct. 11, 2017
Mera Larie Murphy Stoll, passed away early Saturday, October 7, 2017. She was known as Larie to most, Sis to her brothers and their families, and Murph to her long-time friends. She was born in Wolf Creek, Montana, April 30, 1935, the third child and only daughter of John and Matilda Murphy. She spent her childhood on the family ranch near Wolf Creek and moved to Helena as she entered her teen years.
She was admittedly more suited to city living. She thrived once she made roots in Helena, making quick friends with several other smart, witty, and fun-loving girls. Although they weren't able to get together often once they started their families, she treasured their friendships always. She often recalled fond memories of those years, especially working aside many of them at the Marlow Theater.
She met Dad, Thomas Eugene Stoll, in 1952 while he was in town looking for a hydroplane engine. They met on a blind date set up by mutual friends, Bill and Leona Johnston. The match worked. They married in February 1954, welcoming the first four of their six children in the first five years of their marriage. Their only son was born in 1961. Another daughter arrived in 1967.
Like most women of her generation, her life changed dramatically once she and Thomas started their family. She left the fun-loving, carefree teenaged days of the early 1950s and entered the unknown world of mother and wife. They shared family responsibilities with traditional, well-defined and successfully executed roles. Mom took on everything domestic. She was cook, housekeeper, seamstress, hairdresser, money manager, purchaser, nurse, educator, events organizer and activities director, carpenter, roofer, stonemason, gardener, disciplinarian, troubleshooter, and always, the final say on all things domestic.
She also kept the books for many small businesses in the Helena area while she was raising her family. Among them were the Union Market and Curry's Appliances. The kitchen table transformed between meals with stacks and stacks of the receipts and other important financial papers.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one's interests, she was a masterful multitasker. Her personal strength and authoritative nature were sharp and deceptive contrasts to her diminutive stature and China doll looks. She learned to easily control her large brood as well as the crowds of kids who accompanied them most afternoons between the end of the school day and dinnertime. (The family home was located midway between Helena's senior and junior high schools.) She ran rough shod over all of them, giving directions and correcting bad behaviors without missing a beat, whether she was roofing the house or burning up the calculator.
Larie was an intelligent, strong-willed, and opinionated woman. She insisted her children gain an understanding of and appreciation for world, national, and local events. She served family dinners with a course of spirited debate over the hot-button political issues of the day. Few agreed with her views, but that was usually okay with her. It was the debate she craved.
She held strong political convictions throughout her life. She served as precinct committee woman for the Republicans in the early 1960s. She repurposed her Avon sample case and commanded nine-year old Linda to shower central Helena with "Babcock for Governor" and "Goldwater for President" campaign literature. In 1993, as she was preparing to undergo major surgery, she insisted her waiting family watch C-SPAN. She wanted us to report the outcome and details of the upcoming NAFTA vote the moment she regained consciousness.
When Thomas retired from state government in 1981, they both went to work part-time for Luxan and Murfitt. They enjoyed their "ideal jobs" there for another 10 years before finally retiring in the early 1990s.
Her health began to deteriorate after her 1993 spinal cord surgery. Over the next several years, she suffered a series of strokes and injuries causing progressive cognitive and physical disabilities. Thomas was her constant caregiver, a role he was reluctant to give up even when they moved to the Waterford in 2009. When he passed away in 2012, she moved to the Rosetta House.
Larie was predeceased by her parents, John and Matilda Murphy; her brothers Earl and Bob Murphy; Thomas E. Stoll, her husband of 58 years; and her only son, Thomas E. Stoll, Jr. She is survived by five daughters, her six gifted grandchildren and her four beautiful great-granddaughters.
Complete obituary published in Independent Record on Oct. 11, 2017
She was admittedly more suited to city living. She thrived once she made roots in Helena, making quick friends with several other smart, witty, and fun-loving girls. Although they weren't able to get together often once they started their families, she treasured their friendships always. She often recalled fond memories of those years, especially working aside many of them at the Marlow Theater.
She met Dad, Thomas Eugene Stoll, in 1952 while he was in town looking for a hydroplane engine. They met on a blind date set up by mutual friends, Bill and Leona Johnston. The match worked. They married in February 1954, welcoming the first four of their six children in the first five years of their marriage. Their only son was born in 1961. Another daughter arrived in 1967.
Like most women of her generation, her life changed dramatically once she and Thomas started their family. She left the fun-loving, carefree teenaged days of the early 1950s and entered the unknown world of mother and wife. They shared family responsibilities with traditional, well-defined and successfully executed roles. Mom took on everything domestic. She was cook, housekeeper, seamstress, hairdresser, money manager, purchaser, nurse, educator, events organizer and activities director, carpenter, roofer, stonemason, gardener, disciplinarian, troubleshooter, and always, the final say on all things domestic.
She also kept the books for many small businesses in the Helena area while she was raising her family. Among them were the Union Market and Curry's Appliances. The kitchen table transformed between meals with stacks and stacks of the receipts and other important financial papers.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one's interests, she was a masterful multitasker. Her personal strength and authoritative nature were sharp and deceptive contrasts to her diminutive stature and China doll looks. She learned to easily control her large brood as well as the crowds of kids who accompanied them most afternoons between the end of the school day and dinnertime. (The family home was located midway between Helena's senior and junior high schools.) She ran rough shod over all of them, giving directions and correcting bad behaviors without missing a beat, whether she was roofing the house or burning up the calculator.
Larie was an intelligent, strong-willed, and opinionated woman. She insisted her children gain an understanding of and appreciation for world, national, and local events. She served family dinners with a course of spirited debate over the hot-button political issues of the day. Few agreed with her views, but that was usually okay with her. It was the debate she craved.
She held strong political convictions throughout her life. She served as precinct committee woman for the Republicans in the early 1960s. She repurposed her Avon sample case and commanded nine-year old Linda to shower central Helena with "Babcock for Governor" and "Goldwater for President" campaign literature. In 1993, as she was preparing to undergo major surgery, she insisted her waiting family watch C-SPAN. She wanted us to report the outcome and details of the upcoming NAFTA vote the moment she regained consciousness.
When Thomas retired from state government in 1981, they both went to work part-time for Luxan and Murfitt. They enjoyed their "ideal jobs" there for another 10 years before finally retiring in the early 1990s.
Her health began to deteriorate after her 1993 spinal cord surgery. Over the next several years, she suffered a series of strokes and injuries causing progressive cognitive and physical disabilities. Thomas was her constant caregiver, a role he was reluctant to give up even when they moved to the Waterford in 2009. When he passed away in 2012, she moved to the Rosetta House.
Larie was predeceased by her parents, John and Matilda Murphy; her brothers Earl and Bob Murphy; Thomas E. Stoll, her husband of 58 years; and her only son, Thomas E. Stoll, Jr. She is survived by five daughters, her six gifted grandchildren and her four beautiful great-granddaughters.
Complete obituary published in Independent Record on Oct. 11, 2017
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