She had a wonderful sense of humor and a quick wit, a loving and giving nature and was adored by family andDorothy Helen Cummins Murphy, 97-years-old, died on Wednesday, June 13th, at Teacups House, a residential care home in Bedford, Texas. After battling Alzheimer’s for almost 15 years, Dorothy decided it was time to fly home … so she did!
Dorothy was born on January 24, 1921 in Ottumwa, Iowa to Jack (Pop) and Geneva Cummins, and along with her older sister, Norma, grew their family to four. Because of Jack’s work with Union Pacific Railroad and his love of travel, the family moved frequently during Dorothy’s childhood years. They eventually settled in St. Joseph, Missouri where Dorothy attended Lafayette High School. In addition to being a great student, she was involved in sports, mainly Basketball and Tennis. She was a tennis ‘natural’ (as was her father), and at 17, won the Missouri Valley Tennis Championship. Dorothy’s passion for tennis endured throughout her lifetime, and she kept up her game by routinely trouncing her children and grandchildren on the tennis court.
In 1942, Dorothy married her sweetheart, Crannell H. Murphy, in St. Joseph, Missouri. In just over a decade they expanded their family to include five children - Diane, Paula, Pat, Dan and Bobby. In the early 1950’s Crannell’s health declined due to a stroke and it took two years and a myriad of tests to identify the real problem, Multiple Sclerosis, a very debilitating disease. After the diagnosis, the family eventually moved to Wichita, KS and Dorothy went back to work to help support the family. Over the years she had a variety of jobs - at KAKE TV and Kansas State Bank - just to mention a few. In addition, she was ahead of her time in the late 1960’s as she owned and operated her own small liquor store, on East 21st Street. Throughout it all, she remained a loving wife, mother and an excellent homemaker. The family remained in Wichita until Crannell’s death in 1972.
In the 70’s she met Bill (Billy) Doughty, who became her life mate and Bill lovingly opened his heart and arms to the Murphy clan. Bill and Dorothy enjoyed the next 40+ years together until Bill’s death in 2015.
For fun, Dorothy and Bill traveled around the country in their 5th wheel trailer, mostly to Arizona, one of Dorothy’s favorite places. She loved the desert and all its beauty, as her father had. She always called Sedona, AZ her ‘good feelin’ place and she found it very peaceful there. Dorothy was a world traveler and enjoyed her trips around the U.S. as well as time spent in Italy, France, Spain and Germany.
Dorothy was not just an amazing mother, but also an amazing role model. She instilled grit in her children and provided them with gentle guidance. She taught them humility and how to stand tall without making others feel less of themselves. Her tolerance of others encouraged her children to always seek out the good in people, even when most had long given up. A shining example of perseverance in the face of adversity, she showed us why the word ‘quit’ was left out of the abridged family dictionary. A giver by nature, Dorothy’s philanthropy knew no bounds and, above all, she showed us the true worth of unconditional love.
friends around the world. Known to most as “Dode” or “Dody” (or in Italy, simply as ‘Mommy’), her signature gift to all was the sense of joy she exuded through her smile, her laugh and her constant joking around.
An amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and loving friend, Dorothy will be dearly missed but her legacy of love will never be forgotten.
