Valeri Jeanne Hansen Murphy

Valeri was born in Blair, Nebraska on September 16, 1951. She was the 2nd of 7 children born to Opal Marie and Robert Arlow Hansen, and was baptized into the Christian faith as a baby. Valeri’s life journey included many cancer diagnoses beginning before the age of 2 when she lost the sight in her left eye from retinoblastoma. Due to her vision loss, her father’s work and career turned to educating the visually handicapped which moved the family from Blair to Kansas City, KS to Vinton, IA and finally to Austin.

Valeri graduated from Washington High School in Vinton, IA in 1969. During her first semester of college she lived with her grandmother and attended Dana College in Blair. She attended the University of Iowa her 2nd semester. Valeri then moved to Austin in 1970 to attend the University of Texas, where she graduated from the School of Nursing in May 1973.

Valeri’s life passions were spending time with, and taking care of, her family and others, attending University of Texas football and baseball games, and of course, dancing! Valeri was a renowned figure at the UT Disch Falk baseball stadium where she was known as the “Dancing Lady”. Valeri and Michael loved their annual pilgrimage to Omaha, Nebraska for the baseball College World Series. They also enjoyed frequent trips to New York City where Michael was born and Valeri’s sight in her right eye was saved as a child. Their last trip there was during Thanksgiving 2014 when they took their grandkids to the Thanksgiving Day parade.

Val and Michael were married on February 15, 1997 in Austin where they raised their son, Ryan and lived their entire marriage.

Valeri’s nursing career began in Houston in 1973, and continued in Austin where her last “home away from home” was St. David’s Hospital where she worked and cared for many, many people for 23 years. In July 2004, she was named St. David’s Employee of the Month, a much-deserved honor!! In February 2014 Valeri retired from her Med-Surg RN position at St. David’s.

Valeri was preceded in death by her brother, Dwight, in 1973; and in 2001 by her dear mother, Opal, who inspired the entire family through Jesus Christ throughout her 52 year marriage to her husband, Bob.

Valeri is survived by her devoted husband, Michael Murphy; son, Ryan and wife, Carlie; grandchildren, Teigan and Skyleigh; father, Robert Hansen; sisters: Vicki Clark and husband, Ben, of Georgetown, Texas, Shayne McWhorter and husband, James, of Rockdale, Texas, and Sharilyn Dunbar of Austin, Texas; brothers: Rollin Hansen and wife, Jill of Kyle, Texas, and Doug Hansen and wife, Lori, of Austin; nieces: Wendy Castellanos, Stephanie Kruger (Dustin), Whitney Myers (Josh), Ashley Harvey and Katelyn Harvey; nephews: James Turpin (Valerie), Jeremy Hansen (Amber), Zachary Hansen (Julie), Brent Hansen (Meghan); little “greats”: Beau, Braden, Brooklynn, Soren and Caylum; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, co-workers and friends!!

Valeri lived out every day with love, compassion, dedication and purpose! Especially for all of the love and care Valeri gave taking care of her parents and each of her family members, we will forever be grateful and thankful for Val-Val! We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff of Hospice Austin and Deb Murray along with all of the wonderful, dedicated nurses and friends at St. David’s Hospital for the incredible care and compassion you gave Valeri, and all of the family, at the end of Valeri’s earthly journey.

Until we meet again…….Fly to Jesus, Valeri, and we know you are dancing in Heaven!!

A visitation will be held on Monday, February 2nd, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Boulevard. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 6600 Woodrow Avenue, with a reception and interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society. Condolences may be left for the family at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com