Remembering Dessie Church Murphy

Dessie Church Murphy, my husband’s paternal grandmother, passed away 81 years ago today. Only 51 years old when she died, Dessie left five children behind. The youngest was Earl, my father-in-law. He was just 12 years old when he lost his mother so his memories were limited, but when he spoke of her, it was always with love. 

Earl and Dessie

Dessie was buried at the bottom of the hill at Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Littleton, Wetzel County, West Virginia. 

The funeral card that was passed out at her funeral is below.

Obsequies for Dessie Murphy

Funeral services were held Monday, November twenty-fifth nineteen hundred and forty at 1:30 o'clock in the home and further services at 2:00 o'clock in the Littleton Methodist Church. 

Officiating clergyman: Rev. R. O. Phillips and Rev. Harry W. Flanagan. 

Singers: The Methodist Choir. 

Pallbearers: Virgil Jackson, Clarence Church, Arlie Church, Carl Jackson, Laverne Church, Fred Church. 

Interment: Thomas Chapel Cemetery.

Dessie Murphy, aged 51 years, died at her home in Littleton, Wednesday, November 20, 1940 at 12:20 o'clock P.M., following an illness of ten weeks. 

She was born near Littleton, February 23, 1889, a daughter of Robert and Lucinda Murphy Church, and resided all her life in the immediate vicinity. She was a member of the Littleton Methodist Church. 

On December 16, 1914, she married Charles Murphy who survives with the following children: Raymond of Yellowstone National Park, Ralph, Evelyn, Glenn and Earl all at home. Five brothers: Charles and Presley Church of Littleton; Henry of Kodol; Donley of Clarksburg; and James of Hundred, and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Evans of Clarksburg; and Mrs. Jennie Davis of Weston, also survive.

Littleton is almost 300 miles from our home so we won't be visiting her grave, but I’m sure Earl is with her in Heaven, giving her a grown-up hug. 

Dessie was a descendent of Henry “Old Hundred” Church for whom the town of Hundred was named.