BELMONT - Jo Ann Ewing Murphy, 79, went peacefully to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, February 18, 2018.
She was born September 17, 1938 to the late John Oscar and Ethel Reep Ewing.
Jo Ann was a 1956 graduate of Belmont High School where she enjoyed cheerleading and was Homecoming Queen. She attended Appalachian State Teachers College before enrolling and graduating from Sacred Heart College in 1960. Her high school sweetheart, Martin Henry Murphy, became her husband in 1962, and she followed him to dental school at UNC-Chapel Hill where she became one of the "Dental Dames". Jo Ann had a heart for young children, teaching them in Sunday School and as a Preschool teacher at First Baptist Church for many years. She was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered countless hours at the Belmont Community Organization.
Family and friends were the delight of Jo Ann. She enjoyed her Book and Bridge Clubs, and hosted many holiday and birthday gatherings, always a perfect hostess. She and Martin took pleasure in travels around the world, and Jo Ann was meticulous about journaling to document each trip so that these memories would last forever. Her selfless heart led her to do first for others always. She made each person she encountered feel special and important, no matter the circumstance.
Jo Ann exemplified grace and dignity in life and in death. She fought a courageous battle of Alzheimer's disease for over 8 years, but won the victory. Always devoted to her husband and family, she was the perfect example of service and humility.
Jo Ann is survived by her husband, Martin; her daughter, Lisa Litaker (Hans); her son, Marty Murphy (Deana); granddaughters Cameron Watts (Nolan), Hannah Litaker, Katy Murphy, and Grace Deason; grandsons Sean Murphy, Kirby and John Deason; great-granddaughter, Caroline Watts; sister, Jane Eldridge; niece Allison Violette and her family. Survivors also include her devoted caregivers, Earleen Harris, Tammy White, Elizabeth Harvey, and Gina Messer. Jo Ann's family would like to thank them for the love and dignity with which they cared for her.
A funeral to celebrate Jo Ann's life will be held at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 3717 Hickory Grove Road, Gastonia, on Friday, February 23, at 2 p.m.
Visitation will be at the church beginning at 12:30 p.m. Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the BCO, the Alzheimer's Association, or Gaston Hospice.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is serving the Murphy family. Condolences may be sent to www.mcleanfuneral.com.
She was born September 17, 1938 to the late John Oscar and Ethel Reep Ewing.
Jo Ann was a 1956 graduate of Belmont High School where she enjoyed cheerleading and was Homecoming Queen. She attended Appalachian State Teachers College before enrolling and graduating from Sacred Heart College in 1960. Her high school sweetheart, Martin Henry Murphy, became her husband in 1962, and she followed him to dental school at UNC-Chapel Hill where she became one of the "Dental Dames". Jo Ann had a heart for young children, teaching them in Sunday School and as a Preschool teacher at First Baptist Church for many years. She was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered countless hours at the Belmont Community Organization.
Family and friends were the delight of Jo Ann. She enjoyed her Book and Bridge Clubs, and hosted many holiday and birthday gatherings, always a perfect hostess. She and Martin took pleasure in travels around the world, and Jo Ann was meticulous about journaling to document each trip so that these memories would last forever. Her selfless heart led her to do first for others always. She made each person she encountered feel special and important, no matter the circumstance.
Jo Ann exemplified grace and dignity in life and in death. She fought a courageous battle of Alzheimer's disease for over 8 years, but won the victory. Always devoted to her husband and family, she was the perfect example of service and humility.
Jo Ann is survived by her husband, Martin; her daughter, Lisa Litaker (Hans); her son, Marty Murphy (Deana); granddaughters Cameron Watts (Nolan), Hannah Litaker, Katy Murphy, and Grace Deason; grandsons Sean Murphy, Kirby and John Deason; great-granddaughter, Caroline Watts; sister, Jane Eldridge; niece Allison Violette and her family. Survivors also include her devoted caregivers, Earleen Harris, Tammy White, Elizabeth Harvey, and Gina Messer. Jo Ann's family would like to thank them for the love and dignity with which they cared for her.
A funeral to celebrate Jo Ann's life will be held at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 3717 Hickory Grove Road, Gastonia, on Friday, February 23, at 2 p.m.
Visitation will be at the church beginning at 12:30 p.m. Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the BCO, the Alzheimer's Association, or Gaston Hospice.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is serving the Murphy family. Condolences may be sent to www.mcleanfuneral.com.
BELMONT - Jo Ann Ewing Murphy, 79, went peacefully to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, February 18, 2018.
She was born September 17, 1938 to the late John Oscar and Ethel Reep Ewing.
Jo Ann was a 1956 graduate of Belmont High School where she enjoyed cheerleading and was Homecoming Queen. She attended Appalachian State Teachers College before enrolling and graduating from Sacred Heart College in 1960. Her high school sweetheart, Martin Henry Murphy, became her husband in 1962, and she followed him to dental school at UNC-Chapel Hill where she became one of the "Dental Dames". Jo Ann had a heart for young children, teaching them in Sunday School and as a Preschool teacher at First Baptist Church for many years. She was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered countless hours at the Belmont Community Organization.
Family and friends were the delight of Jo Ann. She enjoyed her Book and Bridge Clubs, and hosted many holiday and birthday gatherings, always a perfect hostess. She and Martin took pleasure in travels around the world, and Jo Ann was meticulous about journaling to document each trip so that these memories would last forever. Her selfless heart led her to do first for others always. She made each person she encountered feel special and important, no matter the circumstance.
Jo Ann exemplified grace and dignity in life and in death. She fought a courageous battle of Alzheimer's disease for over 8 years, but won the victory. Always devoted to her husband and family, she was the perfect example of service and humility.
Jo Ann is survived by her husband, Martin; her daughter, Lisa Litaker (Hans); her son, Marty Murphy (Deana); granddaughters Cameron Watts (Nolan), Hannah Litaker, Katy Murphy, and Grace Deason; grandsons Sean Murphy, Kirby and John Deason; great-granddaughter, Caroline Watts; sister, Jane Eldridge; niece Allison Violette and her family. Survivors also include her devoted caregivers, Earleen Harris, Tammy White, Elizabeth Harvey, and Gina Messer. Jo Ann's family would like to thank them for the love and dignity with which they cared for her.
A funeral to celebrate Jo Ann's life will be held at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 3717 Hickory Grove Road, Gastonia, on Friday, February 23, at 2 p.m.
Visitation will be at the church beginning at 12:30 p.m. Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the BCO, the Alzheimer's Association, or Gaston Hospice.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is serving the Murphy family. Condolences may be sent to www.mcleanfuneral.com.
She was born September 17, 1938 to the late John Oscar and Ethel Reep Ewing.
Jo Ann was a 1956 graduate of Belmont High School where she enjoyed cheerleading and was Homecoming Queen. She attended Appalachian State Teachers College before enrolling and graduating from Sacred Heart College in 1960. Her high school sweetheart, Martin Henry Murphy, became her husband in 1962, and she followed him to dental school at UNC-Chapel Hill where she became one of the "Dental Dames". Jo Ann had a heart for young children, teaching them in Sunday School and as a Preschool teacher at First Baptist Church for many years. She was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered countless hours at the Belmont Community Organization.
Family and friends were the delight of Jo Ann. She enjoyed her Book and Bridge Clubs, and hosted many holiday and birthday gatherings, always a perfect hostess. She and Martin took pleasure in travels around the world, and Jo Ann was meticulous about journaling to document each trip so that these memories would last forever. Her selfless heart led her to do first for others always. She made each person she encountered feel special and important, no matter the circumstance.
Jo Ann exemplified grace and dignity in life and in death. She fought a courageous battle of Alzheimer's disease for over 8 years, but won the victory. Always devoted to her husband and family, she was the perfect example of service and humility.
Jo Ann is survived by her husband, Martin; her daughter, Lisa Litaker (Hans); her son, Marty Murphy (Deana); granddaughters Cameron Watts (Nolan), Hannah Litaker, Katy Murphy, and Grace Deason; grandsons Sean Murphy, Kirby and John Deason; great-granddaughter, Caroline Watts; sister, Jane Eldridge; niece Allison Violette and her family. Survivors also include her devoted caregivers, Earleen Harris, Tammy White, Elizabeth Harvey, and Gina Messer. Jo Ann's family would like to thank them for the love and dignity with which they cared for her.
A funeral to celebrate Jo Ann's life will be held at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 3717 Hickory Grove Road, Gastonia, on Friday, February 23, at 2 p.m.
Visitation will be at the church beginning at 12:30 p.m. Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the BCO, the Alzheimer's Association, or Gaston Hospice.
McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont is serving the Murphy family. Condolences may be sent to www.mcleanfuneral.com.
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