Cora Elizabeth Murphy, daughter of Archie V. and Etta Mae (Horner) Smith was born on October 4th, 1946, in Nebraska City, NE. Cora passed away on February 26th, 2022, at CHI Immanuel Hospital in Omaha, NE at the age of 75. She got her high school degree in Nebraska City followed by receiving her certified nurses aid certificate. She worked as a CNA until her retirement years.
Cora was united in marriage to Nelson Oren Murphy on May 9th, 1964, in Julian, NE. They resided in Nebraska City, NE where they raised their 4 children, then Farragut, IA until settling in Essex, IA in 2000. She was a member of St. Benedict’s Church and then Assembly of God in Nebraska City. She enjoyed spending time with family, grandchildren, watching her soaps, vacationing with her husband, and listening to Elvis Presley.
Cora was preceded in death by her parents Archie and Etta Mae, brother, Vernie Smith, sister-in-law, Linda Kay Clark, grandson, Cody Shatswell, along with many cousins, aunts, and uncles.
Cora will be sadly missed by her husband Nelson Murphy of Essex, Iowa, children: Sherrie (Ottie) Hale of Essex, Iowa, Tommy (Barbie Gray) Murphy of Essex, Iowa, Pamela (Dean) Hastings of Glenwood, Iowa and Tammy Smith of Maryville, Missouri; grandchildren: Tritan, Zach, Debbie, and Thomas Murphy, Austin and Aubrey Hastings, Ottis Hale III, Natasha (Alex) Pfeil, Brittany (Nicholas) Maher, Nate Hale, Ryan Murphy, Jordan Murphy, Cory Myers, Tiffany (Mike Clark) Hastings, Jack (Emily) Murphy, Billy Shatswell, Dakota (Brandon Gomel) Weaver and Jasmine (Jesse Fletcher) Weaver; great-grandchildren: Fenix and Stefan Hale, Piper, Paislee, and Asher Maher, Bentlee, Braxton, and Cooper Hale, Elena Myers, Kailey and Benson Clark, Olivia and Lucy Murphy, Landon, Logan, and Phoenix Gomel, Charlie and Bailey Fletcher, Nicole Adkins, Jonathan and Brandon Yost; sisters: Caroline Campbell of Nebraska City, Shirley Strayer of Lincoln, NE; brother Kenneth Smith of Burlington Junction, MO, numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 4, 2022 at the Faith Baptist Church in Nebraska City, NE. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the church. Memorials may be directed to the family. Burial will be held at the Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City, NE. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.hackettlivingston.com. Services entrusted to Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah, Iowa.
