Madelyn D. Murphy

Madelyn “Madi” Murphy, 81, of Decatur, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at her home in Decatur. Private Services will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. Arrangements are entrusted to Newell Chapel in Decatur. Memorial donations in Madi’s name may be made to the The Alzheimers Association. Friends wishing to sign Madi’s Memory Book online may do so at www.newellchapel.com. Madi was born December 10, 1939 in Greenwood, Maine to Harry & Marion (Pratt) Swan. She graduated from Gould Academy in Maine. Madi spent many years in the Hastings, Michigan area where she worked at the Ben Franklin Store and ABC Warehouse in Kalamazoo. On September 2, 1989, she married Walter Murphy, II in Kalamazoo. Together they owned and operated MS Service and Frontsight, both in Decatur for more than twenty years. When not working or caring for her family, Madi loved fishing, crafting, sewing, canoeing and shooting firearms. She will be deeply missed by her loving family and many, many friends. Madi is survived by her husband Walt; her children-Pamela (Al) Jarvis of Hastings, Barry (Lori) Coolidge of Oxford, ME, Scott (Myrandia) Coolidge of Hastings, Tamara (Eric) York of Benton Harbor, Winter Murphy of Flintville, TN, Heather (Nick) Dressander of Wyoming, MI; fifteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; her sister Barbara Wakefield of Locke Mills, ME; a sister-in-law Margie Swan of Locke Mills, ME; numerous nieces & nephews; and special friends & caregivers Dave & Danny Hossler of Decatur. She was preceded in death by her parents; by three children-Shannon Murphy, David Coolidge & Kimberly Coolidge; her brother Harry Swan, Jr.; and her brother-in-law Ken Wakefield.