Ruth Lee Murphy
Sept. 14, 1936 – March 22, 2022
Ruth Murphy Lee died March 22. Ruth Marie was born on Sept. 14 1936, to Inez Miller Murphy and John Frank Murphy in the family home in Drexel.
With bright red hair like her mother and blue eyes like her father, she was the delight of her parents and for the first years of her life all was well and happy.
But the marriage of Inez and John ended in divorce and John was granted custody of the child who, with the assistance of hired help and a gracious God, he guided through childhood and the teenage years until, at 18, Ruth met the man who would become her husband.
Harvey Nichols Lee and Ruth were married April 11, 1955. Their union was blessed with three wonderful children, John Leslie Lee, David Nichols Lee and Brenda Kay Lee Marks.
The marriages of these children added two loving daughters-in-law, Janice Lee and Lisa Lee and a fantastic son-in-law, Dan Marks, along with the Marks family that Ruth considered her own.
Her tree of life was completed with the arrival of seven dearly loved grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Jonathan Lee, Jeremy Marks, Christina Nichole Lee, Jeffery Marks, Kelsey Lee, Thomas Marks and Mackenzie Lee and two step-grandchildren, Josh and Samantha Chamberlin. Her great-grandchildren are Taylor Nichole Lee, Alexander Xavier Lee, Ekatarina Lee, Gracie and Allie Marks and Bennett Lyons.
Ruth was the only child of an only surviving child of an only surviving child meaning the Murphy linage by name ended with her marriage. Even so, she gained something of more value. She acquired the family she’d yearned for.
Proceeding her in death were her husband, Harvey Lee; her mother and father, Inez Gillion and John Murphy.
Ruth enjoyed life. She enjoyed laughing, dancing, traveling, and visiting with neighbors, friends and family or anyone else she came in contact with. The ability to converse with others was something she considered to be a gift. A special talent and one she didn’t let go to waste, often to the dismay of her family.
Another God given talent Ruth possessed was an ability to move others with words on paper. For many years she wrote a weekly column for The Drexel Star and during her lifetime much of her work was printed in anthologies and a variety of magazines. One of the articles she took humble credit for having written, a personal essay titled, “God Doesn’t Make Nobodies,” was reprinted by at least five publications.
Ruth was a Christian wife, mother and grandmother. At an early age she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized into the faith, worshipping on a regular basis in both the Church of the Nazarene and the United Methodist Church and daily doing her best to follow the example set by Christ.
You will not be surprised to know that this celebration of life service was planned in advance by Ruth. She loved all of you.
And she asks this of you, “Continue to live with love in your hearts. Love for God, love for each other and love for yourselves.”
“And hey, don’t forget to laugh!”
Funeral services March 28 at the Mullinax Funeral Chapel. Burial was in Sharon Cemetery, Drexel. Memorial contributions may be made to Drexel Public School Foundation.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Mullinax Funeral Chapel, Drexel.
Luella Mae (Rosson) Nichols
Nov. 8, 1928 – March 15, 2022
Luella Mae Rosson Nichols, 93, died March 15 at Truman Healthcare and Rehab, Lamar. She was born on Nov. 8, 1928, in Callaway County, to William Hiller Rosson and Lillie Mae Basnett Rosson. Luella was married to Millard Joe Nichols May 3, 1947.
He preceded her in death in 1993.
Luella was blessed with four children, Jacqueline Lee King, (Nicky) Gary Joe Nichols (Janet), Eric Allan Nichols, and Tonya Kay Hogan (Jeff); seven grandchildren, Amberly Phelps (Mike), Amanda Nichols, Zach Nichols (Jessica), Ethan Hogan, Emily Crewse (Branson), Kensi Dye (Callen) and Kaitlyn Johnson (Daniel); two great-grandchildren, Lanie and Luella; and lots of family and friends.
Luella was a realtor and tax preparer for H&R Block, but her most loved job was wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed reading, traveling, shopping with her girls and beating her granddaughters in rummy. She was a
member of the First Baptist Church in Nevada.
A visitation was March 20 will be at Heuser Funeral Home, Rich Hill, with a graveside service following.
Memorials are suggested to American Legion Post 67 in care of Heuser Funeral Home.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Heuser Funeral Home, Rich Hill.