Lillene Rae Murphy

Lillene Rae (Atchey) Murphy, of Yukon, peacefully passed away Thursday, January 2, 2025, in Edmond, Oklahoma with her loved ones by her side. Lillene was born April 1, 1948 in Oklahoma City and ten months later she became the “darling adopted” daughter of her beloved parents, George Leroy “Bud” Atchey and Mayme Marguerite (Mullikin) Atchey. She attended Oklahoma City schools, graduating from Northwest Classen High School in 1966. She married Donald Louis “Don” Murphy on June 11, 1966 in Oklahoma City. The marriage was blessed with two daughters, Shannon and Kelly, who she considered her greatest accomplishments. She was also proud of her 4 grandchildren who brightened her retirement years.

After the birth of her oldest daughter, Lillene became a stay-at-home mom, helping to supplement the family’s income with a cottage industry where she made and sold macrame Santa Claus and wicked witch door hangers, and ceramic pieces including Christmas tree ornaments and lighted Christmas trees. Once both girls started elementary school, Lillene returned to the workforce, working first for Norick Brothers in OKC, then Canadian State Bank in Yukon and finally at Weokie Credit Union, from which she retired in 2010 with over 20 years of service. After retiring, she immediately started babysitting her granddaughters and loved every minute of it.

After being raised as an only child, in 2019, Lillene did a commercial DNA test and was excited to learn the identities of her already deceased biological parents, Virgil Edgar Merrill and Amandy “Ellen” Wofford, seven half siblings and many first cousins whom she enjoyed getting to know.

She was preceded in death by both her adopted and biological parents and a biological half sister, Della (Wilkes) Garrison. She is survived by daughters Shannon and husband Vialo Weis of Elwood, Indiana; Kelly and husband Robert Keely of Arcadia, Oklahoma; 4 grandchildren, Kenzie Keely, Kira Keely, Daniel Weis and Clarice Weis; 6 half siblings, Chester Wilkes, Sharon Buster, Donnie Merrill, Johnnie Merrill, Steve Merrill, and Jimmy Merrill, and her very best friends of over 62 years, Sharon Wallace and Shirley Burton.

Memorial services and inurnment are Monday, February 17, at 10 a.m. at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens at 8701 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK.