Francis Xavier (Frank) Murphy,
86, retired illustrator for
American Airlines. Survived by
wife, Mary Betty, and daughters,
Mary Jo Kinzie (Jack), Katie,
Clare Mukerjee (Subir), Ellen
(Steve Unterman), Kris, Molly
(Karl Rambo), and Aileen (Paul
Heilker); sisters, Margaret Hofmann
and Elizabeth Murphy;
sister-in-law, Leona Schwartz.
Grandfather to Kimberly Mukerjee,
Anthony Mukerjee, Sophie
Unterman, Eli Heilker, Phoebe Unterman,
Ellie Rambo, Madeleine Murphy and Olivia
Rambo. Uncle to nine and great-uncle
to many more. He grew up in Raleigh, NC,
moved to New York City to attend Manhattan
College at the age of 16. He served in
Korea from 1946-1948 and returned to New
York and married Mary Betty Keegan, with
whom he thrived for more than 62 years.
Though he illustrated for a living, he also
painted signs, silk-screened T-shirts, repaired
VWs, worked night jobs, and finished
his degree at TU, graduating at the age of
50. He loved annual family vacations: Blue
Ridge Parkway, the northwest, the outer
banks of North Carolina. He celebrated St.
Patrick's Day by sending shamrock stickers
to his grandkids. He was too young
for the Greatest Generation, so
he invented his own generation.
He made up George The Bear
stories every night when the kids
were little. He was up late to
talk when teenagers came home,
and when they became parents,
he was there to get to know his
grandchildren. His door was always
open to friends and anyone
who wanted to drink coffee and
talk. He was the best listener ever.
When Mary Betty's health declined, he
created a safe and vibrant world for her as
long as he could. The man raised by two
widows and two older sisters, then fathered
seven daughters, was surrounded by the love
of those women for whom he always will be,
and actually originally was, the most interesting
man in the world. He was one of a kind;
no definition can capture his uniqueness.

Memorial and reception at family home
Saturday, May 31st, 2-5 pm. For reception information please call Mary Jo Kinzie at (405)818-4596.

In lieu of flowers,
donate to St. John's Health System
Foundation: either the La Fortune Cancer
Center Us Too Group or Hospice at www.
stjohnhealthsystem.com/foundation.

FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL 918-585-1151