DeEtta (Roberts) Murphy of Harrisburg

DeEtta (Roberts) Murphy, a resident of the Villas of Hollybrook in Harrisburg, passed away on April 5, 2018.

She was born on Dec. 31, 1933 to Fred and Ethel Roberts of Pope County. DeEtta was married to John Murphy on Sept. 1, 1953 at Ledford Baptist Church by the Rev. Paul Dann and they celebrated nearly 65 years together before John preceded her in death on Feb. 23, 2018.

She attended East Ledford Grade School and Harrisburg High School. After graduating, she became a dental assistant for many years working in Harrisburg and then in Pontiac, Michigan where she and John moved. She then worked as a loan officer for General Motors Credit Union while John worked at Fisher Body Motors.

DeEtta and John attended Columbia Avenue Baptist Church where they were most active in serving the Lord. The couple lived most of their lives in Pontiac before moving back to Harrisburg five years ago.

DeEtta loved sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking and gardening. She was very talented in everything she undertook.

She was the last survivor from her nuclear family, as she and her siblings lost their parents at an early age. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Alger and sister, Wanoka.

Her older sister, Wavel, raised the remaining children: Vivian (Palmer), Roberta (Coleman), Leontine (Jones), and Yvonne (Futch).

She is survived by brother-in-law Charles Murphy and sister-in-law Lulu Belle (Joe) Rice, both of Carrier Mills, and sister-in-law Wanda Marsh, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 11 at Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills. Service will be immediately following visitation, with a graveside burial at Salem Cemetery in Carrier Mills.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Salem Missionary Baptist Church (P.O. Box 187, Carrier Mills, IL 62917). When John & DeEtta moved back to Illinois they joined and became active members in this small country church.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers at Holly Brook and Southern Illinois Hospice, and a very special caregiver, B.J. Bennett. They provided much comfort, compassion and support.