August 27, 1928 - February 17, 2018
On Saturday, February 17, 2018, our beloved Mom, Gran and Great Gran passed away at the age of 89. She was alert until the very end and was told by each of us how very much we loved her. Although she had told us she would miss us terribly, she looked forward to uniting with her Savior, family and friends in heaven.
Ivon was born on August 27, 1928 in the country near Gore, Oklahoma. She was the only child of Thurman William Wagner and Reba Clegg Wagner. T.W. worked as a coal miner and later in the oil fields near Oklahoma City. She moved with her family to the Edmond area when she was thirteen, attending Deer Creek School from the 8th grade until she graduated in 1946. She obtained a business and office management degree from Hill's Business College in 1949. She worked at First National Bank in Edmond, at Southwestern Bell and at TG&Y headquarters in Oklahoma City where she was a personnel manager.
Ivon accepted Jesus as her Savior and was baptized at age 11. She was a devoted Christian with a strong faith in Jesus who loved to study the Bible. Her faith was demonstrated by how she raised her family and by her tireless service to others. She attended Hopewell Baptist Church (the Teepee Church), MetroChurch and Heritage Baptist Church. She began playing the accordion as a child and loved performing. She was an alto in the church choir and often performed as a soloist. She served as the church hostess for many years and Sunday School teacher of children and adult women. She loved to cook. Her favorite room in the house was the kitchen where family and friends gathered to enjoy good food and their love for each other.
Ivon met Jim in the 8th grade. He was a tall, handsome farm boy with a quiet confidence. She always said she would not marry a farmer, but after a few years of dating, Jim Murphy won her heart. They were married on November 1, 1951 at Hopewell Baptist Church. They worked together and raised their four children on their dairy farm just west of Edmond (near the corner of Edmond Road and Portland Avenue). Jim and Ivon celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2001.
Her greatest love was her family and friends. Her greatest joy was being our incredible Mom and Gran. Proverbs 31:28-30 describes her beautifully, "Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praises her. Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 50 years, Jim Murphy, and very recently by her son, Mike Murphy, MD, of Garland, Texas. She is survived by her son Terry and wife Cathy of Oklahoma City, her son Jay and wife Florene of Texhoma, and daughter Joy and husband Phillip Lindsey, MD, of Edmond. She is also survived by her ten grandchildren Tara, Anna, Ben, Rebekah, Daniel, Ryan, Brooklyn, Jacob, Sarah and Lucas, as well as seven great grandchildren.
Services to celebrate Ivon's life will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Heritage Baptist Church, 14317 North Council in Oklahoma City. Graveside services will follow at Chapel Hill. The family will receive friends at Chapel Hill on Friday, February 23 from 6-8 p.m.
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