Dorothy Pearl Murphy,96, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Life Care Center of Seneca.

She was born April 28, 1919, on a farm south of Abilene, Kansas, the daughter of Ralph A. and Elva E. Engle Cooley. She attended Country School and graduated from Chapman High School in 1937. Dorothy obtained a teaching certificate and taught in rural schools in Dickinson County for five years. She then attended St. Margaret’s Hospital Nursing Program in Kansas City, Kansas, graduating in 1945. She returned to Abilene and worked as a nurse in Abilene Memorial Hospital.

On September 5, 1948 she married George Everett Murphy at Abilene. They lived in Manhattan. She worked at Kansas State Hospital while Everett finished college. In 1950 they moved to Seneca, KS. She began work at the Seneca Hospital in 1959 after their children were in school till 1969. She worked part time at the Axtell Hospital and was school nurse at B&B Schools for 12 years till 1973. Then she did volunteer work. She enjoyed quilting, reading, genealogy, gardening and working at the Nemaha County Historial Society.

She was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ until its closing, Nemaha County Historical Society member, Nemaha County Council of Aging member, member of the Order of the Eastern Star #164.

She was preceded in death by her husband on May 30, 2001 and her sister Cathryn Cooley on January 28, 2013 and a brother Orlan Cooley on June 28, 2014.

Survivors are four sons, Stanley (Cindy) Murphy of Seneca, George (Kathy)Murphy of Henderson, Nevada, Walter Murphy of Lawrence, Phillip Murphy of Topeka; three daughters, Donna Thoele of Topeka, Joyce (Steve) Koch of Beattie, and Nelda (Glenn) Appell of Wichita; 14 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; ninteen great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; and one step-great-great-grandchild .

Funeral services will be at 11 AM Wednesday, January 20th at Lauer Funeral Home. There will be a family visitation on Tuesday, January 19th from 6 to 8 PM at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Burial will be in the Seneca City Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be give to the Nemaha County Historical Society and/or the Seneca Library in Dorothy’s memory, sent in care of the family