Frances H. Bruce Murphy

Frances H. Bruce Murphy - age 93, of Cantonment, Florida was called by her heavenly Father on October 19, 2012. Frances was born in Mobile, Alabama on January 17, 1919, to Frances Koppersmith Bruce and Semmes C. Bruce. Miss Frances H. Bruce attended Mobile’s St. Joseph’s Elementary School from 1925 to 1933 and finished high school at Bishop Toolen High in 1937. After graduation, she married and began a varied work career. Mrs. Murphy worked for Bell Telephone Co., Neisener’s Five and Dime, Hartwell Field Concessions, Morrison’s Cafeteria, Botter and Dutton Construction, Haas Davis Packing, and Alabama Beverage Control. Throughout her work career, she managed to love, educate, and nurture a devoted family of five children. Frances attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mobile, Alabama until moving to Cantonment, Florida in 1995. There she lived with her daughter and began attending St. Jude’s Church. God, faith, and family were priorities in her life. She most enjoyed time with her family, her friends, her many pets, word puzzles, Wheel of Fortune, and her favorite game of Bingo.

She was preceded in death by Frank and Mary Wallace Koppersmith (grandparents), her aforementioned parents, Edward Bruce (brother),Constance Bruce and Felix Cleveland (sister/brother-in-law), Mary Agnes Koppersmith and Frank Rice (aunt/uncle), Margaret “Dutch” Koppersmith and Douglas Halliday (aunt/uncle), Henry Koppersmith (uncle), Warner and William “Willy” Koppersmith (aunt /uncle), Claire Koppersmith Paravicini, Frank/Mary Margaret “Sis”/William Koppersmith(cousins), Pauline Halliday Neese (cousin), Felix W. Cleveland Jr. (nephew), and two grand-daughters: Kim Marie Murphy Ney and Heather Michelle Lay Nelson. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Joseph F. Murphy(Joyce), Ronald E. Murphy (Brenda), Barbara A. Murphy (Robert Jones), Shirley A. Murphy, and Rebecca A. Murphy Lay; four grand children; Joseph F. Murphy Jr. (Brenda), Marc Dean, Joshua Lay, and Amber Dawn McDaniel; seven great-grandchildren; four great, great-grandchildren; niece Jacqueline Cleveland Bosarge; nephew Richard C. Cleveland; cousins Margaret “Tita” Halliday McNellage, Margaret Ann Koppersmith Norris, Gregory Koppersmith, Deborah, Paula, Kenneth, and Margaret “Margie” Neese, special friend Martin Eads, and a host of other friends. A visitation will be held at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street in Mobile on Sunday, October 21, 2012, from 5 p.m. to 8p.m. with Fr. George Thekku leading in prayer of the rosary. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mobile on Monday, October 22, at 10 a.m. with Fr. Paul G. Zoghby serving celebrant. Interment will follow at Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Martin Eads, Lisa Howard, Barbara Murphy, Joseph E. Bosarge, Ronnie Green, and Joshua Lay. Frances requested that her family and friends celebrate happy times in their lives and forego the flowers. She often said that she could not enjoy the flowers in her death and would prefer that friends donate to their respective charities. She would be pleased that, in celebrating her life, individual charities would benefit to meet the needs of others. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.

Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606.