Jo (Coyle) Murphy

Jo Murphy

Jo Murphy, 76, Hays, died Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at HaysMed.

She was born April 15, 1943 in Estherville, Iowa the daughter of Donald and Rose (Whitlow) Coyle.   Jo was working as a lab technician at Mayo Clinic when she met Jim Murphy, and on June 4, 1966 they were united in marriage in Rochester, Minnesota.  They celebrated nearly 53 years of marriage.  She attended Indiana University, Western Illinois University, and earned her Volunteer Management Program Certification from the University of Colorado in Boulder and her Certified Administrator of Volunteer Services Certification from the American Hospital Association.  In 1980 she became a volunteer at Hadley Regional Medical Center.  In 1986 she started her employment at HaysMed as Director of Volunteer Services, retiring in 2014.  Jo’s wholehearted dedication and pride in being part of HaysMed was equal to her passion for their volunteers and the difference they make.  In 2014 she received the Norman W. Jeter Humanitarian Award at HaysMed, one of the highest awards of honor an associate can receive.  Jo was very much loved by her HaysMed friends and family and will leave a void in many lives.  She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the PEO chapter BQ, was an excellent cook, enjoyed baking, gardening, flowers, listening to birds, drinking coffee, and reading.  She was always striving for self-improvement, helping people be better, had a huge capacity of love for others, and saw beauty and potential in all she met.  She was kind, classy, generous, and loved her family, especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband Jim of the home in Hays, a son; Sean Murphy of Hays, a daughter; Erin Storer and husband Doug of Hays, four brothers; David Coyle and wife Dana Reno of Georgetown, TX, Richard Coyle and wife Sue of Big Lake, MN, Patrick Coyle and wife Colleen of Coon Rapids, MN, and Kevin Coyle and wife Suzanne of Green Valley, AZ, a sister; Peggy Undem and husband Kevin of Eagan, MN, two grandchildren; Courtney and Hunter Storer, and numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister; Virginia Judd.

A celebration of life for Jo will be on Monday, May 6, 2019 from 9:00 am until 11:00 at Fort Hays State University in the Memorial Union Stouffer Lounge.  A private family inurnment will be at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney.  Memorials are suggested to the HaysMed Volunteer Fund in honor of Jo Murphy, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.  Condolences and memories of Jo may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com           

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jo (Coyle) Murphy, please visit our floral store.