Penny Murphy

MURPHY, Penny Lynn (Stockton) - Age 72, of Fenton, died Sunday, September 13, 2020.  Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 AM Thursday, September 17, 2020 at St. John the Evangelist Church, 600 N. Adelaide St., Fenton.  The service will be live streamed and may be viewed by visiting her obituary page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.  Visitation will be held at the church Thursday from 10:00 AM until the time of the Mass.  In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to a Hospice of your choice.

Penny was born March 15, 1948 in Flint, the daughter of Sheldon and Eva Lynn (Smith) Stockton.  She married Thomas William Murphy June 6, 1969 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Flint. Penny and her three Stockton sisters were badminton national champions and competed for many years throughout the United States.  With her marriage to Thomas, a GM employee, Penny faithfully moved her family to several Michigan cities, Mobile AL, Charlotte NC, and Saõ Paulo, Brazil.  While living in these locations and in her own work assignments, Penny had a chance and loved to travel and experience new places and cultures.

Penny worked as a nursing practitioner for over 50 years.  She graduated from the University of Michigan with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing cum laude in 1979 and earned her Master of Science in Health Services in 2001.  Penny worked as a nurse in Michigan, Alabama and North Carolina in a variety of specialties and in both staff and management positions.  For the last 30 years she devoted herself to her true love, Hospice and Palliative Care, working in programs located in several Michigan cities and in Florida and Illinois.  She served in both the position of President and as Executive of the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.  She also was a member of several policy committees of the National Hospice Organization in Washington, DC.

Penny is survived by her three children, Mary, Thomas (Kelly Misyiak) and Patrick (Laura) Murphy.  Her seven beloved grandchildren are Morgan, Ryleigh, Stockton, Charlotte, Emerson, Marlow Murphy and Evalynn Phelps.  Throughout her life, Penny devoted herself to others, especially her large related family.  She is survived by her sisters, Peggy Crane (Thomas), Polly Bretzke (Brian), and Pam Brady (Danny); brother and sister-in-laws, Josephine Wesoloski (James), Richard Murphy (Melodie), and Marsden Michael Murphy (Julie); 24 nieces and nephews; and 36 grand-nieces and nephews.

Penny was an extraordinary woman whose loss is deeply felt by all who knew her, especially by her family.

Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.  Arrangements by Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Road, Fenton.