OAKLAND – Helen Elizabeth Murphy passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 16, 2023, after a brief illness.

She was born Dec. 2, 1935, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Brigadier General Joseph and Inez Ready. Helen was raised in Oakland, Maine and attended Williams High School where she met the love of her life Larry Murphy. They married in 1960 and remained loving partners until Larry’s passing in 2018.

During the first 17 years of her marriage, they lived in Massachusetts. Helen would spend every summer in Oakland once the children were out of school until Labor Day raising their 4 boys, while Larry commuted on weekends. In 1977, they moved permanently to Oakland on Snow Pond.

Following retirement, Helen and Larry spent winters in Cocoa Beach, Fla., and later Cape Canaveral. There they enjoyed the warm weather, new friends, going out to eat and visits from friends and family.

Helen’s greatest joy was spending time with family on Snow Pond where all the family and friends were always welcomed to create memories and cherish each other’s company. She was an avid bridge player with many of her friends both in Maine and in Cocoa Beach, Florida during winter months.

Helen is survived by her four sons, Daniel and his wife Linda of Manchester, N.H., Timothy and his wife Heidi of Kingfield, Robert and his wife Heather of Old Orchard Beach, Scott and his wife Rachel of Manchester, N.H.; grandchildren, Amber, Patrick, Steven, Christopher, Riley, Andrew, Erin and Chloe; great grandson Sutton; sister Barbara Eckley of Dayton, Ohio; sister-in-law Sarah Enos of Concord, N.H., and brother-in-law Jim Murphy of Manchester, N.H.

Along with her parents and husband she is preceded in death by her brother Joseph Ready and cousins Connie Looney and Dotty Campion-Corcoran.

At her request there will be a celebration of life at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver St, Waterville on Saturday, April 22, at 9 a.m. Following the service there will be a reception held at The Governor’s Restaurant 376 Main St., Waterville.

There will be a Graveside announced at a later date.

An online guestbook may be signed, and memories shared at: http://www.lawrybrothers.com

Arrangements are by Wheeler Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 26 Church St., Oakland, ME

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boys & Girls Club/Alfond Youth Center of Greater Waterville, 126 North St

Waterville, ME 04901

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