Frances Hoylman Murphy
November 27, 1941 - March 23, 2020

Frances Darlene was born at home on Nov. 27, 1941 to Wayne and Elsie Schiffler Hoylman in Keokuk County, IA. She graduated from Iowa Mennonite School, attended at Eastern Mennonite University, and graduated from its partner program with Riverside School of Nursing in Newport News, VA. Through her Head Nurse at Riverside Hospital, she met her husband George Murphy, and they were married Nov. 30, 1968. Together they had five children. When the first child was born, Frances became a full-time mother and homemaker, and the neighborhood nurse advisor. After the last of the children entered school full-time, she started part-time work as a church secretary, then an administrative assistant at Virginia Specialty stores, and later a church secretary again. She was active in church throughout her life, belonging to local Mennonite or Nazarene congregations, with a strong faith she shared freely. She was always involved in missions and the outreach of the church. She loved music and played piano or organ for the churches she attended, as well as singing in church worship, choirs, and a gospel choir. She enjoyed blessing others through cooking and baking, and is rather famous in certain circles for her homemade bread (always an extra loaf for the preacher), apple cake, taco salad, cinnamon rolls, and all her cookies. She was always willing to help anyone she could.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, sister Merna, and son George. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, George, daughters Lydia, Ellen, and Amy, and son Jason (Rachael), sisters Carol Bennett and Wanita (Michael) Gannon, brothers Louis (Jeanette), Leland (Barbara), and Myron (Pam), grandchildren Elizabeth and Nathaniel Mullen, Duncan McClain, Matthew Jacob and Seth Murphy, and Miranda, Alana, and Hannah Murphy, numerous nieces and nephews, and other family members Voatress Mullen, Tena Lewis, and Harry McClain.

Arrangements for visitation and the funeral are impacted by COVID-19. Visitation and the graveside service, on March 25 and 26, respectively, are restricted to immediate family only. A memorial celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Newport News Church of the Nazarene, 29 Harpersville Rd, Newport News, VA, 23601; or online at www.3nchurch.org, then click 'Give.'