Carol Kaye Murphy

Music, family, faith, and service were the threads woven through the fabric of her life. She was an eternally optimistic person who stayed connected to her Kansas roots, loved sunflowers, romance, Denver Broncos and CU Buffs football, reading a good mystery novel and watching game shows. Her favorite evening was staying up late and sharing a bowl of popcorn and movie with her grandkids.

In High School she sang in music contests and majored in music at Phillips University where she met her husband, David Murphy, on a choir trip. They were married in June of 1954. David entered the University of Colorado Medical School shortly thereafter.

She and Dave appeared in many musical productions and sang in numerous choirs together. Some of her most cherished musical groups include The Northland Chorale, The Melodic Marguerites, The Harmomics, and the choir at South Broadway Christian Church. Kaye and Dave’s love of music was passed on to their five children and the family often performed together.

Kaye finished her undergraduate degree in 1956 at the University of Denver with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. In 1984, Kaye received a certification from Metropolitan State University of Denver in the Administration of Non-Profit Agencies. And a few years later she received her Ministerial License through a program with the Central Rocky Mountain Region of Disciples of Christ Church.

Her twenty-year career as Coordinator of Women’s Activities at the Regional Office of the Rocky Mountain Region of Christian Churches and then Associate Regional Pastor involved leading women’s activities, regional events, and preaching at all of the churches in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.

Kaye was truly a super volunteer, almost all of it centered on serving and lifting up women and girls, cultivating women leaders. Throughout her life she participated in numerous organizations and filled leadership roles in almost every one. She was a 65-year member and state president of Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), chapter president of Christian Women’s Fellowship, president of the Denver Medical Auxiliary when it sponsored and planned for the long-running exhibit on the human body at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, an intern at the Rocky Mountain Adoption Exchange, helping to match "hard to adopt" children with permanent families and homes, a volunteer with “Mother-to-Mother,” where mothers are paired to provide friendship, support, and resources, Colorado president of Church Women United, member of the InterFaith Alliance, the Colorado Council of Churches and the Executive Committee of the National Disciples of Christ Christian Church Women, and served on the United Christian Missionary Society.

As a member of member of South Broadway Christian Church for almost 70 years, Kaye was involved in numerous outreach efforts, served on the board, as board chair, as one of the first women Elders, and is honored as an Elder Emeritus. Maybe even more importantly though she is remembered for her simple and daily kindnesses in providing rides and meals to those who needed them.

Through all the accomplishments and volunteering, for Kaye and her husband Dave, their children and grandchildren, and later two great grandkids, were the glue that held them together and the light that shone brightest on their love.

When asked about her future at age 80, Kaye responded, “the last 4 years have been spent with challenges of my husband who had Alzheimer’s. Now again I am thinking about how I will use my future years in a productive manner. I am seriously thinking of taking some classes at a seminary as I continue to learn more about God, religion and maybe help to make the world a more peaceful and better place for my ten grandchildren.”

Kaye was preceded in death by her husband, David A. Murphy and son, Gregory J. Murphy, and is survived by four children, Cynthia S. Murphy, Julie Murphy Seavy (Robert), Timothy A. Murphy (Beth), and Jennifer L. Murphy (Harry); grandchildren, Ryan Seavy (Nikole), Allyson Murphy, Kellen Kaye (Justin), Parker Landry-Murphy, Brenna Murphy-Estus, Caitlyn Murphy-Dunn, Hayden Murphy-Estus, Westley Landry-Murphy, Kacey Murphy-Brandt, and Maeve Murphy-Estus; and great grandchildren, Jackson Kaye and Khloe Kaye.

Donations in Carol Kaye Murphy’s honor may be made to the Disciples Women’s Endowment Fund, Disciples Women’s Ministry, P.O. Box 1986, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1986.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CrownHillFuneral.com for the Murphy family.