OBITUARY
Elizabeth Davis Reagan "Liz Murphy"
July 8, 1941 – July 2, 2012
Deerfield, New Hampshire
Elizabeth Davis Reagan “Liz Murphy”, died on July 2, 2012 at the Concord Regional VNA Hospice House from the effects of a chondro sarcoma. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts July 8, 1941 daughter of Elizabeth Delano and George Quincy Davis. Liz grew up in Hingham, Massachusetts graduating from Hingham High School, and Bennett College. After college Liz worked at Filene’s, Boston. As a young mother in Lowell, Mass. she volunteered on the original Paul Tsongas for Congress campaign and later was employed on his congressional staff. Moving to Kearsarge, NH Liz, was active in her children’s schools, volunteered with the youth ski program, as a ballot checklist supervisor and a grass roots political activist. Liz was Conway Business and Professional Women’s Woman of The Year. A one-term member of the NH House she was appointed to the Appropriations Committee and served as a delegate to the NH Constitutional Convention. She was Vice-chair of the NH Democrat State Committee. During this time Liz achieved her bachelors degree from Granite State College and did graduate work at UNH. Loving the outdoors Liz started running with the White Mountain Milers and in thirty years running various distances often won or placed in her age group. A member of Team in Training to benefit the Leukemia Society Liz completed two marathons raising considerable donations. Beginning in 1986 Liz worked for and was instrumental in the licensing phase of Seabrook Station as the community relations and government relations manager. In 1991 she opened, what was to become the largest lobbying firm in the state, Murphy Public Affairs. Until her death Liz proudly represented the interests of business and associations before the NH legislature and all levels of state, local and federal government. Starting in 2006, Liz continued to represent old and new clients for the Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group the successor to Murphy Public Affairs. During her life Liz participated as a board member of Swiftwater Girl Scouts, founding board member of The Women’s Policy Institute, co-chair of Youth in Government and as an elected member of the Deerfield Municipal Budget Committee. All her life Liz enjoyed being outdoors and working in her gardens. She attended every possible sporting event of her children and was just as enthusiastic with her grandchildren. While enjoying her challenging career and loving all the people her business brought her in touch with Liz’s true love belonged to her husband State Representative John Reagan, her three children Patrick Murphy and his wife Kelley of Kearsarge, NH, Caroline Smalley and her husband David of Fredericksburg, VA, and Jay Murphy and his wife Hillary of Hingham, MA and her fifteen grandchildren, two stepsons Brian and Tim and their wives Sandy and Robin. Liz is also survived by her two brothers and their wives George Quincy Davis Jr., his wife Sue and Jonathan Delano Davis and his wife Tammy a niece and four nephews. Calling hours are from 1:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, July 6 at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 North Main Street, Concord, NH. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Deerfield Community Church, 15 Church Street, Deerfield on Saturday July 7, 2012 at 10:00 am. A Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Mountains Church in North Conway at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, C/O Jay Murphy, 25 Irving St., Hingham, MA 02043, Deerfield Fire Department, P.O. Box 90, Deerfield, NH 03037or Back on my Feet, C/O Jay Murphy, 25 Irving St., Hingham, MA 02043. Messages of condolence may be offered at www.bennettfuneral.com
Services
- Visitation Friday, July 6, 2012
- Celebration of Life Saturday, July 7, 2012
REMEMBERING
Elizabeth Davis Reagan "Liz Murphy"
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RECEIVE UPDATESNina Moore
August 1, 2012
Deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Elizabeth Reagan. May you find comfort in God - our rock, our strength and our might.
roberta tenney
July 8, 2012
Our sympathy and kind thoughts of many happy moments talking to Liz about the state that we all love and policies that will keep it great--
Roberta and Rod Tenney
George S. Foster III, CAI
July 7, 2012
Our thoughts and prayers are with John Regan and all of Liz's family and friends. Liz was a guiding light for the New Hampshire Auctioneer's Association and it was because of her good work and guidance over the past 20 plus years that we were able to upgrade the laws governing the Auction Profession thus protecting the Public and up-grading our profession. Her loss will be felt by all of us but her smile and positive attitude will remain in our hearts and guide us for many years to come.
George S. Foster III, CAI
President NHAA
July 7, 2012
So sorry to hear about your loss. May you find comfort in the bibles message Ecclesiastes 9:5,10
Paula J
July 7, 2012
My sympathies to Liz's family and friends. Her field of spring flowers covered the yard and brightened the days as did her cheerful smile and humor.
July 6, 2012
My condolences to John Reagan and to all of Liz Murphy's extended family.
Rep. Chris Christensen (Merrimack, NH)
Kathy Stroud
July 6, 2012
John, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Rep. Jeanine Notter
July 6, 2012
I'm sorry for your loss. May her memory be eternal.
Casey Crane
July 6, 2012
It was a great honor getting to know Liz while serving on the Science, Technology & Energy Comm in the House. A strong woman who held her strength with such class and style. She was a role model for any smart woman in the way that she handled herself. Her husband John and she were a perfect match. I will be praying for comfort for this family. Elenore Casey Crane
Bob Arnold
July 5, 2012
Liz was a very dynamic woman with a ton of class. I always enjoyed our conversations when we would run into each other at NHLRA events.
Rick Bornemann
July 5, 2012
I was shocked to read of Liz's passing. She was wonderful to work with, and to simply be around. We had some tough assignments together, but managed to laugh a lot during our spontaneous canoe trips in Maine. Liz generously taught me, and I'm sure many others, a great deal. She will be so missed all over New Hampshire.
Larry Rappaport
July 5, 2012
I knew Liz only tangentially, but I had great respect for her and her husband John and I greatly admired them both. I cannot attend the services as I am a bit ill and cannot travel the distance involved, but I express my deppest sympathy to the family and especially to John. May God bless her and keep her close to his side.
Gregory Dodge
July 5, 2012
John and family,
Liz was an inspiration to me and when I was ill she prayed for me as I did for her. I am sorry that I did not get to see her before her passing but we recently spoke on the phone, before she entered hospice care. May God rest her soul.
Greg and Lisa Dodge
July 4, 2012
I'm very sorry to learn of Liz's passing. Although we had different opinions on nuclear power, she was always open, honest, and respectful of my perspective in her position as a lobbyist for the owners of the Seabrook nuclear plant.
Rep. Robin Read
Portsmouth
tom keane
July 4, 2012
John, Liz is in a better place, a place she richly deserved. May she rest in peace.
Gene Charron
July 4, 2012
Dear John, I extend my siincerrest sympathy on Liz's passing. Just know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and family. God Bless.
Rep. Gene P. Charron Chester NH
Jeff Newman
July 4, 2012
I am deeply saddened to learn of Liz's passing. I will miss her wisdom and wit. My sympathies to John, her children and friends.
Lynne & Russ Ober
July 4, 2012
Liz always had a ready smile and a thoughtful answer to any question. She was one of the great ones and will be greatly missed.
July 4, 2012
I express my deepest sympathy to the friends and family of Elizabeth Reagan. May the peace of God that excels all thought be with you during your time of grief
Gail Fayre
July 4, 2012
I am sorry that I will be unable to attend the services because I will be out of the country. It was my pleasure to get to know Liz, she inspired me in so many ways at each visit. Her love of running and her love of life was an inspiration to all who met her. My thoughts are with your family at these times,but I am sure you will find much joy in the way Liz loved you all. Dr. Gail Fayre.
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