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
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