Charlene was born on Mother’s Day, May 12, 1929 in Winchester, Massachusetts, the third of five children and the first daughter of Irving and Edna Mae Thibeault.
Charlene’s family moved to Baltimore, Maryland shortly after her birth for employment opportunity during the Great Depression. Charlene graduated from Towson High School in 1948. She loved going to dances, riding in the front car of roller coasters and going to the beach. She attended a Navy vs. Notre Dame football game that was played in Baltimore and became a lifelong football fan. She and her husband Jim were Baltimore Colts season ticket holders during the 1960s and enjoyed watching and cheering for Notre Dame, Navy, Virginia Tech and LSU as well as the local NFL Team over the years.
She married Jim Murphy in 1952 and enjoyed 58 years of marriage until Jim’s passing in 2010. Charlene was primarily a homemaker and mother, but also worked for the telephone company (AT&T) as a young adult, and then later in life as an “Avon Lady” when she lived in Jarrettsville, Maryland. She was very proud of being a member of the Avon Presidents Club and fulfilling her dream of visiting Hawaii by winning an Avon sales contest that was earned by only a few sales representatives nationwide.
Early in their retirement years, Charlene and Jim moved from Jarrettsville, Maryland to Ocean View, Delaware, where Charlene liked to attend daily mass and spend the summer days on the beach at nearby Bethany Beach. After a decade in Delaware, Charlene and Jim moved to Florida to enjoy the senior living that Florida offers. Charlene began playing golf and enjoyed being a member of a 9 hole ladies league. In their later years, Charlene and Jim moved to Kingwood, Texas to be closer to their son Kevin, his wife Mary Jean and their grandchildren.
Charlene is preceded in death by her husband Jim Murphy and siblings Irving Thibeault, Jr., Douglas Thibeault and Enda Mae Curtis (nee Thibeault). She is survived by her brother Bill Thibeault of Baltimore, her son Kevin Murphy and his wife Mary Jean, and grandsons Tim Murphy and his wife Amie, Jeff Murphy and his wife Marlene, and Fred Murphy and his wife Karly. She is also survived by five great-grandsons: Ryan, Luke, Cole, Cooper and Myles.
Charlene battled and suffered the effects of cardiovascular peripheral artery disease for many years. She also respected and supported the mission of St. Jude’s Research Hospital. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to either the American Heart Association or St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
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