Janette Kay Murphy

Janette Kay Murphy of Albuquerque entered Heaven on Feb. 11 at the age of 81. Beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother and friend, Janette was a woman of strong faith, unwavering love of family and a champion for children. She dedicated her adult life to teaching and nurturing children and mentoring other teachers, touching countless lives through her kindness, sincerity and tireless commitment to high standards and thoughtful, meticulous planning of children’s programs. Janette enjoyed traveling, reading sci-fi and spending time with her grandsons.

Born May 1, 1944 in Ft. Worth, Texas to W. E. (Bill) Ward and Aldena Girdley Ward, Janette was the second of four daughters. During her childhood, Janette’s family moved frequently due to her father’s occupation as a Minister of Music and Education. She lived in Fort Worth, Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Haynesville, Louisiana; Longview, Texas; San Benito, Texas; and Lovington, New Mexico. After graduating from Lovington High School in 1962 she attended Odessa Junior college for a year before transferring to Texas Technological College in 1963, where she received a BS in Education with honors in 1966. She taught fifth grade in the Lubbock Independent School District for one year before marrying Larry Patrick Murphy on July 22, 1967 in Midland, Texas. The couple moved to Albuquerque, where Janette taught fifth grade at McCollum Elementary School for three years while attending University of New Mexico at night and over summer breaks in pursuit of a master’s degree in biology and a secondary teaching certification. She completed her student teaching in biology at the newly opened Eldorado High School in the Fall semester of 1971. In February 1973, just six credits shy of earning her master’s, Janette and her husband welcomed their first child, Lara, followed by their son, Kevin, in March 1977. In 1976 Janette began working part-time in the Children’s Ministries at Hoffmantown Baptist Church, where she eventually assumed a full-time position as Director of Children’s Ministries, serving in that capacity for 25 years. After leaving Hoffmantown in 2003, Janette worked part-time to build the Children’s Ministries at Hoffmantown West, which is now called Sagebrush Church. She retired in 2005 to assume her most cherished role of all—grandmother. She joyously welcomed four grandsons over the next 10 years, and, alongside her husband, dedicated the last 20 years to nurturing her grandchildren.

Janette was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Iris Shermer of North Carolina. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Pat; sisters Nancy Boyd of Lubbock, Texas and Melody Seidlits of Horseshoe Bay, Texas; children, Lara (and Russell) Adams and Kevin (and Kimberly) Murphy, both of Albuquerque; grandsons Ewan Adams, Conlan Adams, Cohen Murphy and Caden Murphy, all of Albuquerque; and many nieces and nephews.

Janette’s Celebration of Life will be 10 a.m. April 3 at French Funerals Chapel, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Her family privately interred her ashes at Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Janette’s name to Alzheimer’s Association, All-Faiths Children’s Advocacy Center or a children’s ministry of your choice.