Vera Murphy

Rock Rapids, Iowa 

 Vera Murphy, age 86, of Rock Rapids, IA died unexpected, Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA.

 Visitation will be Tuesday, March 4th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with the family present at Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock Rapids, IA. Also there will be a Prayer Service at 6:45 PM at the church on Tuesday evening at the church.

 Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 5th at Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Father Sunny Dominic as Celebrant.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial may be directed to the Mayo Clinic.

 Vera Ivone Spencer was born August 2, 1938, in Calhoun County, Iowa, the daughter of Lloyd and Mildred (Hout) Spencer. She was raised in Fonda, Iowa where she attended country school and graduated from Fonda High School in 1956. Vera received a teaching certificate from the Iowa State Teaching School (now University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, Iowa and taught at Odebolt-Arthur school. Vera was also a teacher at Central Lyon school. Teaching was not simply her job, it was the person she was. She also taught and shared her generational talents in arts, crafts, gardening and decoration with her family. The skills she gained from her teaching education and practice added to her keen sense of empathy and engagement with others which she brought to her 25-year career as an activity director at Lyon Manor Home. On June 13, 1959, Vera was united in marriage to Bill Murphy in Fonda, Iowa. The couple lived in Fonda until they moved to Rock Rapids in 1960 and were blessed with six children. 

  Vera had many hobbies including playing bridge, horseback riding, knitting, sewing and singing. She loved to dance as much as she loved her dance partner Bill. She earned her Master Gardener Certification in 2002 and could sew or mend any article of clothing. She made many of her grandchildren’s baptismal gowns and quilted countless baby blankets for all the new babies in her family. Vera was an avid writer. She sent regular cards and letters to her family and friends whether they lived locally in Iowa or in far flung Western Australia. Her flowing elegant handwriting and wits stayed strong in every letter she wrote until the end.

  She and Bill were blessed to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in 2019 with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and many friends in attendance. 

  Vera is survived by her husband Bill, of 65 years; their children, John (Susanne Jeffrey) Murphy, Lori Murphy, Mary (Terry) Jones, Pat (Cindy) Murphy, Mike (Tricia) Murphy, and Joe (Kim) Murphy; 18 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Duana (Butch) Boon and brother, Bob (Sue) Spencer. 

  She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Mildred Spencer; her brothers, Colin Spencer and Pete Spencer; and her nephews, Todd Spencer and Edward Boone.