Mary Ruth Murphy, age 80 of Clinton, TN passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2013 at home surrounded by her family. Ruth was raised in Andersonville and graduated from Norris High School. She met her husband Bob when she was a telephone operator at Southern Bell. She retired to be a full time mother and touched many lives through her work with PTA, sports leagues, scouts and her community. Ruth's favorite place was her garden, and she was an avid sports fan. Ruth is preceded in death by parents, Zee & Reba Melton; siblings, Betty Irwin and James Melton.
Ruth is survived by husband Robert C. Murphy, children Deborah Dickson (Ashley); R. Lynn Murphy (Donna) and Stephen W. Murphy (Mary); granddaughter Lyndsai Thoma (Albert); siblings, Clifton Melton (Judy), Clayton Foust (Pam), June Henderson, Faye McCoy, and Sue Melton, beloved nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Ruth's family will receive friends on Saturday, December 28, 2013 from 1:00pm - 2:30pm in the chapel of Jones Mortuary in Clinton, TN. A graveside service will immediately follow at Norris Memorial Gardens in Norris, TN. In lieu of flowers, Ruth requested donations be made to the Anderson County Humane Society at www.andersoncohumane.org or 969 Oak Ridge Turnpike, PMB 366, Oak Ridge TN 37830.