Shirley A. Murphy

Shirley Ann (Moran) Murphy, 85 of Cut Bank, died of natural causes Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Glacier Care Center in Cut Bank. Visitation is Sunday at 6:30 pm, with a Vigil Service at 7:30, both at St. Margaret Catholic Church. Mass of the Resurrection will be 10:30 am Monday, April 15 at the Church. Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be posted at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.

Shirley was born in Great Falls in 1927, the first daughter of Donald and Mildred "Peggy" (Peck) Moran. She was joined by younger sisters Donna and Kathy. She attended school in Shelby until her junior year of high school, when the family moved to Cut Bank. She graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1945.

Shirley worked as a waitress in various restaurants in Cut Bank, including the Big Sky Cafe and Glacier Restaurant, throughout the years. In 1945, Shirley married Roddy Sellars, and they had one son, Steve. They later divorced. She married Don Hannaford in 1956 and they divorced in 1963. She then married Jim Murphy in 1965 and they were married until Jim’s passing in 1999.

Shirley loved to garden and grow beautiful flowers. Her small backyard was always carefully pruned and cared for, and a small greenhouse kept fragrant tomatoes growing throughout the summer. She loved cats and had several as pets throughout the years. Shirley was quiet by nature but famous for delivering quick-witted one-liners. She worked hard her entire life, sometimes scraping extra change together to pay for Steve's music lessons.

After retirement, Shirley spent time working in her garden and becoming more active in her church, St. Margaret Catholic Community in Cut Bank. She enjoyed going to coffee or lunch with her friends. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents and husbands Roddy Sellars and Jim Murphy.

She is survived by son Steve, of Kalispell; sisters, Donna Ready of Shelby and Kathy (Dave) Johnson of Cut Bank; step-children, Buck (Teresa) Murphy of Helena, Patrick (Sandy) Murphy of Cut Bank, and Barbara (Jack) King of Helena; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren