Citizen of the Year: Ruby Murphy attributes her longevity to the 3 F's writes Mona Sandefur
BENTON, Illinois (Benton Evening News), November 5, 2007:
At age 102, it appears nothing will keep Benton's Citizen of the Year, Ruby Murphy, from her daily activities. She is active in church: Her pastor, the Rev. Charles Klassen of the First Baptist Church of Benton, said she attends every Sunday.
“One Sunday, she and a group of ladies were getting off the elevator and someone asked her if she was serving as elevator operator,” he said. “She said, ‘Well, someone has to help the little old ladies'.”
Murphy will be honored along with the winners of the Benton-West City Area Chamber of Commerce Business, Educator and Volunteer of the Year awards on November 8.
Murphy remains independent in her home and her activities, and attributes her longevity to the three F's: Faith, family and friends - and good genes.
“Faith is first,” she said. “I was brought up in the church and have been a member of First Baptist Church of Benton for almost 90 years.”
She recalls major historic events in a snap and credits reading for helping keep her mind sharp.
“I have a lot of memories,” Murphy said. “I remember in 1918, when World War I ended and the city erupted with excitement. I also remember the excitement when the Armistice was signed, meaning the end of World War II. During World War II, I was a court reporter for Judge Ben Eovaldi when his court reporter was drafted into the Army.”
Benton-West City Chamber of Commerce members will honor Ruby Murphy as Citizen of the Year on November 8. Murphy has preserved a page from her past, a 1953 copy of The Benton Evening News. She served as first secretary to the Franklin Hospital Board of Directors and is pictured in the photo to the right of her. Also pictured are photos of the hospital construction. Photo by Mona SandefurMurphy also recalls purchasing her first automobile, a Ford Model A coupe. “I only made $85 a month and paid $25 a month for it until the full amount of $625 was paid,” she said. “That was in 1925 or 26.”
Benton Public Library employee Paula Lainfiesta calls Murphy every Wednesday to see if she needs more books to read.
“We have four residents who participate in our homebound reading program,” Lainfiesta said. “Friends of the Library deliver the books. Ruby has been a member of the program for the past two or three years. She particularly likes to read books written by Lori Wick and Janette Oke. We deliver five or six books to her, which lasts her about two weeks. She is an avid reader.
“She is very supportive of the library and makes donations on occasion. There is even a weeping cherry tree planted by the entrance to the library in her honor.”
Murphy said she prefers to read clean books, adding Christian romance novels are her favorites.
Murphy has been a member of the Benton Garden Club for more than 60 years. “I am now an associate member and served as president in 1959,” she said.
She was an avid walker until losing her walking partner.
“Maxine Lewis and I walked every morning,” Murphy said. “We even started keeping track of it in 1984 and logged more than 1,000 miles. My stepdaughter, Madge Presley, even presented me with a framed certificate of achievement to document the event.” She said Lewis was a wonderful woman who succumbed to cancer. “I still miss her,” Murphy said.
Murphy said her mother, Leona Morgan, raised six children by herself. “We were as poor as church mice, but she never made us feel poor,” she said. “She was a wonderful mother who raised my four brothers and one sister. I don't know how she did it. She made all of our clothes.”
She has a daughter, Judy Balph and husband, Jim, who reside in Vero Beach, Florida, and considers Presley her daughter. “She has been with me through good and bad times,” Murphy said. “I depend on her like a daughter.”
Her stepson, Rex, passed away.
Murphy reflected on a memento, a page from a 1953 edition of The Benton Evening News.
“I worked as a stenographer for Judge Joe Hill and later for attorney A.C. Lewis, who was attorney for the UMWA,” she said. “One of the women who helps me found a copy of the newspaper in my basement. There are pictures of me as the first secretary of the Franklin Hospital Board of Directors. The page of photos also shows the hospital when it was being built.”
Janet Shadowen shares chores with Connie Morris to assist Murphy. “I have been cleaning for Ruby for about 14 years,” Shadowen said. “Connie Morris takes her to doctor's appointments, to the store and to get her hair fixed. Otherwise, she does everything else for herself.
“I talked to Ruby about receiving the award of citizen of the year and she can't figure out why she has been nominated,” she said. “She said she hasn't done anything to deserve it. I told her that it is because of who she is not what she has done. She is just a model citizen and an inspiration to all.”
Shadowen said Murphy loves her family and her church family. “She loves to have her family come and visit her,” she said. “Her church family also means a lot to her and she has enriched their lives. She is a joy to be around. She makes you feel special but she is the special one.”
Murphy keeps her mind sharp by reading books and newspapers and walks around the block during warm weather, Shadowen said. Murphy said she did walk around the block during the warm weather but said her legs did not work as well as they did when she was younger.
Ruth Lewis said she is proud to claim Murphy as a relative. “She is my grandfather's first cousin,” Lewis said. “She is a wonderful person and is always positive in her outlook on life and goes with the flow. Ruby seems to roll with the punches life has dealt her. She is resilient and a joy to be around. Ruby continued to drive until about two years ago and stays up to date with everything. She is just a very classy lady.”
Copyright © 2006 GateHouse Media, Inc.
