Amy Sue Murray Earl

On Friday, January 27, 2023, Amy Sue Murray Earl, 49, passed away at Springfield Memorial Hospital surrounded by her parents, children, sister, and best friend, after an almost eight-year battle with ALS.

Amy was born in Conroe, TX, on September 25, 1973, and lived in Lubbock and Corpus Christi, TX, where she attended Mary Carroll High School prior to moving to Illinois in 1989. She graduated from Antioch Community High School in Antioch, IL, in 1992, attended the College of Lake County, then completed her bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University in Bloomington, IL.

Amy was incredibly caring and ran an in-home daycare for many years. She was active in her church, moms’ groups and dedicated to her children. Amy was loved fiercely by her friends and family. Upon hearing of her passing, family, friends, and neighbors from long ago shared stories of Amy that described her perfectly: “She was one in a million”, “We had the best times”, “She always made me laugh”, “She taught me to love Jimmy John’s sandwiches and to scrapbook”, “She had an amazing laugh and a special soul”, “Amy was always on the phone, always laughing and always the life of the party”, “Amy was truly one of a kind”, “Amy holds a special place in my heart”, “Amy hosted the best Friendsgiving’s”, “Amy’s smile was infectious and she made everyone feel loved”, “Amy found humor in it all”, and “Amy was a warrior”.

Among being incredibly fun, loud, bossy, uproariously funny, and a terrible driver, Amy loved fun things. She loved music, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Fireball whiskey, superhero movies, Dr. Who, and her chihuahua, José. Amy was the one to ask if you needed a good book recommendation, a new show to watch on Netflix, or a question on history, and everyone always wanted her on their team when playing Trivial Pursuit. She kept herself surrounded by fun things and she never gave in to the sadness of her disease.

Amy’s greatest joy and favorite job was being an incredible mother to her three children, Austin, Jack, and Ruth. She met and married the love of her life, Brian Earl, in 2014. Brian made Amy happier than she had ever been and Brian cared for Amy until he preceded her in death on December 19, 2022. Amy and Brian enjoyed camping with her parents and taking many trips to Grafton, IL, the Murray Family Farm in Eldorado, IL, family Thanksgivings in Sioux City, IA, and Brian’s beloved Ft. Meyers, FL.

Amy is survived by her children, Austin, Jack, and Ruth Wickenhauser; her stepdaughters, Kelsi (Matt) Larison, Kaitlyn and Makenzi Earl, all of Springfield; her parents, James and Lorna Murray of Eldorado, IL; and her sister, Sarah (Benjamin Uhl) Murray of Sioux City, IA.

Funeral Ceremony: 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 3, 2023, at Butler Funeral Home – Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield, with Pastor Ben Alexander officiating.

Private burial will be held at Murray Cemetery in Eldorado, IL.