Loretta Tierney Murphy

Loretta Tierney Murphy (Lorie) of Fairfax, Virginia passed away unexpectedly on March 8, 2026. Born in Arlington, Virginia on May 26th, 1961 and raised in Vienna, Virginia, Lorie was the 7th of 8 children, of John J. Murphy and Eleanor C. Murphy (nee Tierney). Lorie was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Neal, her parents, and two older sisters, JoAnne McGowan and Maureen Murray and nephew, Joseph Murray.

Lorie is survived by her amazing and greatly loved daughters Eleanor E. Neal and Rebecca Peaslee. She is also survived by her heartbroken siblings, John Murphy, Eleanor Sullivan, Suzanne Murphy, Thomas Murphy, Kathleen Murphy, and their spouses and partners. Additionally, Lorie is survived by two grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews spread around the world.

To say Lorie loved to read would be an enormous understatement. She lived a life full of books and love. Trained as an educator, she used her training and love of reading in her most important role, Ellie’s Mom. Lorie was so proud when Ellie decided that her own path would be in Library Sciences and continues to pursue her education at her mother’s Alma Mater, George Mason University.

But Lorie’s life wasn’t just lived in books, she loved to travel, especially to Ireland where, with her lovely red hair, she easily blended with the locals. She also loved music, crazy little rescue dogs, walking in the woods of Maine where her daughter Rebecca and her family live, playing on the beach and swimming at Popham Beach.

Lorie was brilliant, accepting, generous, quick-witted and witty, which she shared with her daughter and her daughter’s friends and families as well as her community from Ellie’s schools, Girl Scouts and neighbors. Lorie was loved and continues to live in our hearts.