Gorham, Kansas – Janice L. “Jan” Murphy, age 79, died Saturday, July 25, 2015, at the Russell Regional Hospital Russell, Kansas.

She was born September 6, 1935, in Hays, Kansas to Carl A. and Leona (Herman) Reich. She married William G. “Bill” Murphy on July 20, 1955, in Gorham, Kansas.

She grew up in the Gorham area and graduated from Gorham High School in 1953. She attended Kansas University in Lawrence, KS, for two years. She and Bill graduated together from Fort Hays State College in 1960. After graduation, Jan taught for several years in various schools, parttime in the Business Department and also substitute teaching. The family moved from Gorham in 1968, living in numerous places in the Western United States and Alaska, due to Bill’s position with the Forest Service.

Jan worked in clerical positions and also as secretary in the bank at Petersburg, AK and for the Forest Service Supervisor. She and Bill returned to Gorham in 1991, where she held a position with the SRS office in Russell, KS.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the KU Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.

Survivors include her husband, Bill, of 60 years, her mother, Leona Reich Lundy, Russell, KS; two sons, Spencer Murphy, Russell, KS; Ryan Murphy, wife Angela, Tenino, WA; four daughters, Deborah Ensminger, husband Don, Los Lunas, NM; Carlee Bishop, husband Sean, Atlanta, GA; Jacqueline Sadowski, husband Kevin, Dallas, TX; Annette Comes, Colorado Springs, CO; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, grandparents, Henry and Mary Ann Herman and Jacob and Ida Reich.

Services are 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Gorham, Kansas and private family burial.

A vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Monday, followed by a family rosary all at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Gorham, Kansas.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, all at St. Mary’s Church Gorham, Kansas.

Memorial to Russell County Relay For Life. \Condolences can be sent via email to
[email protected].