Joan Murphy

Joan Raquel (Whaling) Murphy born April 1, 1931, died of natural causes on July 5, 2021. Joan is survived by 9 children, Patricia Leonard (Stephen), Pamela Harper (Jan) both of Benton Harbor, MI; Daryl Murphy, Mazatlán, Mexico; Shannon Kimmel (Jamie) Chicago, IL; Kevin Murphy, East Lansing, MI; Sharon Hays, CA; Heidi Patterson (Walter) Fredericksburg, VA; Kyle Murphy (Cheryl) Arlington, TX; Nancian Strand, Kalamazoo, MI; 16 grandchildren Kyle Wilson, Siobhan and Alexandra Leonard; Quran Turner (Cynea); Ian, Ryan (Zaira) and Kevin Kimmel; Kyla Massey, Sophie, William and James Patterson; Paige Harper (Christi); Tara Jarrett (Daniel) and Asa Murphy (April); Marlo Murphy and Noah Strand and 11 great grandchildren.She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Patricia Whaling, Kalamazoo, MI and Sheila Whaling, St. Joseph, MI. Joan’s husband of 57 years, James L. Murphy, parents Walter and Flossie Whaling, her brothers Walter Whaling and George Whaling all preceded her in death. Joan was a unique blend of personality. She did not fit the criteria of black culture or white culture. She settled on the middle and that is how she raised her children. She had a laugh that could fill the house or a room. The reverberations of that sound are found in the voices of her family. She loved music. She played the piano and sang in the choir. She was an avid reader of many genres and modeled that love of the written word to her children and any child she taught or befriended. She was a 1949 graduate of Benton Harbor High School. She attended Lake Michigan College. She worked for Aircraft Components, Berrien County Juvenile Center, and 30 years with Benton Harbor Area Schools, serving as President for the BHAS Paraprofessional Union. She was an avid participant in her community; YMCA Board, Community First, Advisor for the Junior National Honor Society BHAS, opening her home for Canadian youth athletes for the CanAmerican Games, Girl Scout and Brownie leader – Girls Scouts of Singing Sands Council, Ward Precinct worker and longtime member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church serving as Vestry member, Choir, Altar Guild President, Episcopal Church Women (ECW), and the Order of the Daughters of the King. Services will be held at the Starks and Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. The viewing will be on July 23, 2021 at 10 a.m. and the service will be at 11 a.m. Out of respect for the family face masks will be required. Donations may be sent to St. Augustine Episcopal Church, Benton Harbor, MI for the Altar Guild. Those wishing to share a memory of Joan online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com