Melva Alyeene Murphy
November 16, 1942 — August 1, 2023
Melva Alyeene Murphy was born November 16, 1942, in Janesville, Wisconsin, the daughter of Sid and Joyce (Halderson) Whitford.
Melva spent her early years in Golden, Colorado, eventually graduating from Watsonville High School in California. Following high school, she moved back to Golden where she met and married Larry Murphy. They, along with their young son, Clyde, moved to Winchester, California, where they established Murphy Construction, specializing in residential/commercial painting and construction. They also formed the entity, Racing Reproductions, which promoted the distribution of posters created from Melva’s paintings of the top 10 motorcycle racers across the nation. Copies of the portraits were displayed at the AMA Hall of Fame Museum in Columbus, Ohio, while the originals were presented to the individual riders. Melva also wrote the songs included on the album “Motorcycle Man,” which she and Larry distributed nationally. During these years, the ambitious family welcomed a daughter, Lin, and another son, Pat.
The family moved to Hartford, Iowa, briefly in 1969 and then settled a few years each in Derby, Kansas, and Leonardville, Kansas. After moving to Sapulpa, Oklahoma, in 1973, Melva and Larry went their separate ways, and Melva attended Tulsa Community College earning a degree in drafting and design. She designed many beautiful properties throughout her lifetime as owner of Concepts in Design. She also wrote for two celebrity magazines in Tulsa, interviewing music entertainers such as Ronnie Milsap, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Clark. In addition to these endeavors, Melva designed and painted gymnasium floors for various high schools and colleges throughout Oklahoma. She also volunteered her time and artistic talents creating stage props for various charitable theater productions in the Tulsa area. In 1975, Melva sat for the prestigious Mensa exam and became a lifetime member.
As a talented artist, taking private lessons from Harry Zutto and Maxine Pendry, Melva painted many professional portraits in the Tulsa area in addition to portraits of celebrities such as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Evel Knievel. She also had the privilege of painting local Iowa sprint car champion, Earl Wagner. However, her most favorite subjects to paint throughout the years were her grandchildren and children of close friends.
In 2000, Melva moved to Pleasantville, Iowa, to be near family. She briefly worked at Principal Financial Group and EMCO Storm Doors but eventually retired so she could provide daycare for her grandchildren. This allowed her time to do what she loved most, which was fine-arts oil painting. Whether she was working on one of her own projects or giving lessons to one of her grandchildren, Melva was enjoying life to its fullest. She was incredibly creative, with a wicked sense of humor; people naturally gravitated to her.
In 2018, Melva was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. With the assistance of her family and friends, she continued to live in her own home until 2021, at which time she moved to Arbor Springs, a facility dedicated to the dementia/short-term memory community. Arbor Springs is made up of wonderful people and activities which helped Melva quickly adapt to her new home and extended “family.” You can find her in many of their Facebook posts, singing, dancing, laughing and enjoying her final years. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Melva passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at Arbor Springs, in West Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 80 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Duane Whitford, Marlene McCleary and Ray Whitford.
Those left to cherish Melva’s memory include: son, Clyde (Wendy) Murphy of Pleasantville, daughter, Lin (Todd) Sheehey of Pleasantville and son, Pat (Jane) Murphy of Indianola, IA; grandchildren Elizabeth (Adam) Tangeman of Ankeny, IA, Rebecca (Chad) Garr of Pleasantville, Tianna Torrejon of Washington DC, Patrick Sheehey of Boulder, CO, Tory Sheehey of Iowa City, IA, Paul Murphy of Indianola, Kate Murphy of Cedar Falls, IA, and Megan Murphy of Indianola; three great-grandchildren, Henry, Lillian and Johnny; brother, Harold (Mary Ann) Whitford of Sun City, CA, and many other family members and friends.
Melva has been cremated and no services are planned at this time. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org . Mason Funeral Home is handling arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.BertrandFuneralHomes.com .
Melva spent her early years in Golden, Colorado, eventually graduating from Watsonville High School in California. Following high school, she moved back to Golden where she met and married Larry Murphy. They, along with their young son, Clyde, moved to Winchester, California, where they established Murphy Construction, specializing in residential/commercial painting and construction. They also formed the entity, Racing Reproductions, which promoted the distribution of posters created from Melva’s paintings of the top 10 motorcycle racers across the nation. Copies of the portraits were displayed at the AMA Hall of Fame Museum in Columbus, Ohio, while the originals were presented to the individual riders. Melva also wrote the songs included on the album “Motorcycle Man,” which she and Larry distributed nationally. During these years, the ambitious family welcomed a daughter, Lin, and another son, Pat.
The family moved to Hartford, Iowa, briefly in 1969 and then settled a few years each in Derby, Kansas, and Leonardville, Kansas. After moving to Sapulpa, Oklahoma, in 1973, Melva and Larry went their separate ways, and Melva attended Tulsa Community College earning a degree in drafting and design. She designed many beautiful properties throughout her lifetime as owner of Concepts in Design. She also wrote for two celebrity magazines in Tulsa, interviewing music entertainers such as Ronnie Milsap, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Clark. In addition to these endeavors, Melva designed and painted gymnasium floors for various high schools and colleges throughout Oklahoma. She also volunteered her time and artistic talents creating stage props for various charitable theater productions in the Tulsa area. In 1975, Melva sat for the prestigious Mensa exam and became a lifetime member.
As a talented artist, taking private lessons from Harry Zutto and Maxine Pendry, Melva painted many professional portraits in the Tulsa area in addition to portraits of celebrities such as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Evel Knievel. She also had the privilege of painting local Iowa sprint car champion, Earl Wagner. However, her most favorite subjects to paint throughout the years were her grandchildren and children of close friends.
In 2000, Melva moved to Pleasantville, Iowa, to be near family. She briefly worked at Principal Financial Group and EMCO Storm Doors but eventually retired so she could provide daycare for her grandchildren. This allowed her time to do what she loved most, which was fine-arts oil painting. Whether she was working on one of her own projects or giving lessons to one of her grandchildren, Melva was enjoying life to its fullest. She was incredibly creative, with a wicked sense of humor; people naturally gravitated to her.
In 2018, Melva was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. With the assistance of her family and friends, she continued to live in her own home until 2021, at which time she moved to Arbor Springs, a facility dedicated to the dementia/short-term memory community. Arbor Springs is made up of wonderful people and activities which helped Melva quickly adapt to her new home and extended “family.” You can find her in many of their Facebook posts, singing, dancing, laughing and enjoying her final years. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Melva passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at Arbor Springs, in West Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 80 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Duane Whitford, Marlene McCleary and Ray Whitford.
Those left to cherish Melva’s memory include: son, Clyde (Wendy) Murphy of Pleasantville, daughter, Lin (Todd) Sheehey of Pleasantville and son, Pat (Jane) Murphy of Indianola, IA; grandchildren Elizabeth (Adam) Tangeman of Ankeny, IA, Rebecca (Chad) Garr of Pleasantville, Tianna Torrejon of Washington DC, Patrick Sheehey of Boulder, CO, Tory Sheehey of Iowa City, IA, Paul Murphy of Indianola, Kate Murphy of Cedar Falls, IA, and Megan Murphy of Indianola; three great-grandchildren, Henry, Lillian and Johnny; brother, Harold (Mary Ann) Whitford of Sun City, CA, and many other family members and friends.
Melva has been cremated and no services are planned at this time. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org . Mason Funeral Home is handling arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.BertrandFuneralHomes.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Melva Alyeene Murphy, please visit our flower store.