Marion Kaye Church

Marion Kaye Church joined our Heavenly Father in the early hours on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. She was surrounded by family and loved ones until the end and her son and sister held her as she passed. She was born on December 19, 1949, and grew up in Greenville, Texas with her sisters. Bobbie Smith Rios who was one year older and proceeds her in death and she is survived by her younger sister, Patricia Smith Morales. She had fond memories of her father, Herbert Smith, who passed early in her life and was blessed to have a close, loving relationship with her mother, Lula Bybee Terriah, who passed after many wonderful years with her daughters. As a close-knit family, it was not unusual for the sisters and mom to live near or with each other. In the ninth grade, she dropped out of high school and married Tommy Murphy, a young masonry with dreams of having his own business. She worked for many years as a seamstress while her and Tommy lived in Oak Cliff. After the birth of their daughter, Mary Murphy, and son, Tommy “T.C.” Murphy, the young couple moved to Red Oak, Texas where Tommy built Kaye a house in which to raise their family. The family grew in Red Oak with the addition of sons, Joseph “Joey” Murphy, and Jonathan “Jonny” Murphy. Not long after their birth, Kaye returned to school to pursue a nursing degree. After gaining her G.E.D., she earned an Associate Degree from El Centro College and became a Registered Nurse. She began her nursing career working at Children Medical Center in the NICU. Not long after, Tommy passed, and her mom moved closer to help with her four, young children. After becoming the Head nurse of the OB/GYN unit, she found a new partner in Wayne Church. While their marriage did not last, their friendship did, and Wayne often visited for holidays long after their marriage ended. When she visited her best friend of over sixty years, Francis Neagle Boehning, in Frost, Texas unbeknownst to her, she found her forever home. After her older children started to make their way in the world, she and her younger sons moved to Frost. After a few years of following her children to help them as her mom had helped her, she returned to Frost until she passed. While living there, she accomplished a goal she long held dear to her heart, she earned her bachelor’s degree and she also started making a name for herself as a nephrology nurse. She served as an officer for many years in the Dallas chapter of the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) including as a president and she was honored to be named an ANNA Nurse of the Year. After officially retiring, she continued to work off and on in nursing homes Although she loved to be called mom, nothing please her more than to be called Gamma by Laura Bonner Cooke, Abigail Murphy, and Edith Tinney. She was overjoyed to include Tele and SoBe Jeffries among her grandchildren, as well as grandson-in-law Matt Cooke. With the addition of great-grandchildren Mason Riley and Wyatt Cooke, you would think her love would have reached its limits, but it did not. Her love grew and grew throughout her long years as she welcomed Marvin Helton, Cynthia Helton Mills, Benjamin Terriah, Jason Terriah, who was taken away too young, Diana Terriah, Tasha Tinney Johnson, Noel Tinney and other family and loved ones that are too numerous to name but are not forgotten in her love. The love she had for other knew no bounds. No matter who you were, she was there to show you what love and compassion were all about. As a nurse, it was her job, but it also seemed to be her life’s mission, to love and care for others. If someone needed a safe place to stay, her home was open as was her heart. Many an hour she spent sewing her love into clothes, costumes, and blankets and many days she spent chauffeuring and encouraging budding athletes as they honed their skills. She made loving others look easy. To share your love and memories of Kaye, please post them here or visit the family on Friday, November 4, 2022, between 6:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home. The memorial service will begin at 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home on Saturday, November 5, 2022, where you are invited to share your fondest memories. After the service, she will be laid to rest at Frost Cemetery with a small luncheon to follow at her home in Frost afterward. In lieu of flowers, send potted plants to keep in her memory, plant a tree or send donations to Alzheimer's Association Dallas Chapter, https://www.alz.org/dallasnetexas Below is a link to view the service for Marion Kaye Church. http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/80681

Marion Kaye Church

December 19, 1949 - November 2, 2022