Ruth Ina Murphy

Ruth Ina Murphy, 76, died Oct. 22 in La Grande.

Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Union. Viewing runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Loveland Funeral Chapel.

Ruth was born Aug. 25, 1931, to Frank and Manila Hassett of Brookings on the family homestead in Brookings. Ruth was the seventh of eight children, having three brothers and four sisters. She graduated from Brookings Harbor High School in 1949, married and had her first child, Gordon.

On Dec. 24, 1955, she married William "Bill" R. Murphy, who brought three stepsons - Michael, William Jr. and Timothy - from his previous marriage. The couple had a son, Sean, in 1963. Ruth and Bill would have celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary this December.

Ruth and Bill were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1958 and continued to live in Brookings until they moved to Alaska in 1975. Ruth and Bill enjoyed many adventures and hobbies while living in Alaska, and Ruth never tired of taking pictures of wildlife and scenery and hunting and fishing with Bill.

She continued to expand her activity by becoming the District Relief Society president, teaching gospel doctrine, seminary and gospel essentials. In 1987 Bill and Ruth retired to Union.

Ruth had always been interested in genealogy since the day she found her father's notes and history in an old family trunk in 1959. She accumulated volumes of genealogical information through the years and became not only the family historian but also a regional expert. Ruth was able to trace many lines back to specific points in history such as the Mayflower landing. She worked in a genealogy library as a researcher and teacher for many years and taught herself and many others the church's genealogy software.

Her family and friends say that Ruth helped thousands of families with research. Her efforts helped the church to perform many "sealings" and baptisms for the dead.

Ruth was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Bill of Union; son and daughter-in-law, Gordon and Michelle Later of Brookings; son, Michael Murphy of Palmdale, Calif., son and daughter-in-law, William Jr. and Katrina Murphy of Boise; and son and daughter-in-law, Sean and Lynette Murphy of Phoenix; 25 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, one bother and four sisters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepson Timothy, and her brothers Virgil and Charlie.