Kim Elaine Murphy, daughter of Phyllis Laughery Moses and Rayfield Moses, was born on May 2, 1963, in Westminster, CA. She was the youngest daughter of eight children. Kim departed this life on Dec. 31, 2025, surrounded by her loving family at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.
When Kim was just 2 years old, her family moved from California to Bagley, where she grew up and attended the Yale-Jamaica-Bagley Community Schools. At the age of 12, she experienced the heartbreaking loss of her mother. For a few years, her oldest sister Julie helped raise her. During her sophomore year, Kim moved to rural Jefferson with her brothers to live with their sister Robin and her family. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1981.
On April 16, 1983, Kim was united in marriage to Jack Lee Murphy at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson. To this union, four children were born: Bridgett, Brandi, Britney, and Ryan.
Kim was a devoted and loving mother, Nana, and most recently, a proud great-grandma. She was also a caring and compassionate sister, aunt, and friend. A natural caretaker, Kim, loved fiercely and unconditionally. Her life revolved around her family—raising her children and opening her home and heart to nieces and nephews. Anyone who knew Kim knew how deeply she loved her family. She was the confetti sprinkled everywhere, making life brighter.
When her children were young, she coached their softball teams, made their Halloween costumes, and was truly a “Pinterest mom” before Pinterest existed. She showed her love selflessly, especially through traditions and holidays. Kim was known for her elaborate homemade birthday cakes for every child, grandchild, niece, and nephew; her Halloween popcorn balls; her cut-out sugar cookies; and her May Day baskets. Her traditional New Year’s Eve parties began when her children, nieces, and nephews were young and continued with her grandchildren, complete with a full countdown and confetti thrown at midnight. Kim was her grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader, always present, whether in the bleachers, auditorium seats, or watching virtually.
Kim loved the ocean and warm, sunny beaches—from California to New Jersey, southern Florida, and St. Thomas. When she couldn’t be near the ocean, she could often be found along the banks of the Murphy River Ranch, a place dear to the family where many Fourth of July celebrations were shared.
Outside of her devotion to family, Kim was a dedicated employee of Northrup-King Seed Company, later Syngenta, where she worked for more than 28 years.
Kim will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her husband Jack Lee Murphy of Jefferson; her children Bridgett (Bob) Allen of Churdan, Brandi (Jeff) Rakowski of Manalapan, NJ, Britney (T.J.) Clausen of Duncombe, and Ryan Murphy of Waco, TX; her grandchildren Elizabeth (Kaleb) Hoyle, Cody Allen (Olivia Shannon), Paisley Allen, Lincoln, Liberty, and Landree Rakowski, Emma, Olivia, Abbie, and Indie Clausen; her great-grandson Colter Hoyle; her sisters Julie (Pat) McDonald, Robin (Jeff) Conner, Kristi (Mike) Winters, Pam (Don) Miner, and Jill Franey; her brothers Troy (Vicki) Moses and David (Dawn) Moses; her sisters-in-law Janice (Marv) Hakseth, Jodi (Brian) Whitver, and Julie (Dave) Jones; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents Rayfield Moses and Phyllis (Laughery) Moses; parents-in-law Oliver and Marge Murphy; grandparents Ruby and Robert Moses, and Gretchen and Boyd Laughery.
Services by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Jefferson,
