Mary Ellen Murphy, 95, died April 4, 2023. She was born Jan. 5, 1928, in Madison, S.D., to Edward and Emma (Minnaert) Richter. She graduated from St. Thomas High School in Madison, S.D., and St. Joseph School of Nursing in Mitchell, S.D. She was married to John Murphy Sept. 12, 1949. Together they owned and operated funeral homes in Yankton, S.D., Mitchell, S.D. and Trinidad, Colo. In addition to raising seven children she worked as a registered nurse in San Francisco, Calif., while John attended mortuary college, Yankton, Mitchell and briefly in Trinidad.
She and John moved to Trinidad in November of 1981 and purchased the Mullare Funeral Home. She and John fell in love with the community and immediately after the purchase began remodeling and investing in the historic and iconic landmark now known as the Chappell House (aka Mullare-Murphy Funeral Home). The Chappell House was built in 1886 by Delos A. Chappell and has seen a complete transformation since the family purchased it in 1981. The building was converted from a doctor’s office and residence in 1934 to a funeral home/residence and had remained unchanged from 1934 to 1981. An interesting bit of history is that Georege Mullare, who converted the building to a funeral home, died in his sleep before the open house and was the first funeral.
She assisted her husband with the funeral business and helped oversee the remodeling from 1981 until his passing in 1993. After her son Tom took over the business, she helped oversee the transformation of the unused Carriage House 1993/1994 from storage facility/horse barn to a modern day living quarters that she enjoyed living in independently for over 10 years. In 1996, the current 1600 sq ft John Murphy Memorial Chapel and 1400 sq ft garage below the chapel was added to the complex. She was semi-retired and living in the Carriage House in 2002 when Tom and Paula married and moved into the upstairs residence and completely remodeled and added on to it in 2002 and 2003. In 2010, after health issues, she moved back into the main residence and lived with Tom and Paula until her passing. By the historical records of the funeral home, Mary Ellen is the longest living resident of the Chappell House with over 40 years and at least 10 years longer than any previous resident. She was such an integral part of the business and the transformation of a historic building to a modern facility. Her presence was unmistakable as her white hair was visible on the east side porch taking her regular cigarette breaks throughout the day. In her honor, the John Murphy Memorial Chapel will now become the John and Mary Ellen Memorial Chapel.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, six brothers and two sisters.
She is survived by her children Mike, Boulder; Sharon Finefrock, Virginia Beach, VA; Joey (Chuck) Larson, Sioux Falls, SD; Jeannie (Tobin) Barnes, Spearfish, SD; Kathy (Mike) Bloom, Kalamazoo, MI; Tom (Paula) Trinidad; Ann (Pat) Lichter, Minneapolis, MN; 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; three sisters in laws and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the residence she so fondly called home for over 40 years, The Chappell House, Sunday, April 23, 2023, at 1 p.m. She will be interred later this summer in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Mitchell, SD, next to her husband John.
Memorials may be made to the Sangre de Cristo Hospice and Community Care, 1502 East Main Street, Trinidad, CO, 81082.
She has entrusted Mullare-Murphy Funeral Home with the services.
