Obituary of Rita Manila Murphy

A life well lived: Rita (Mack) Murphy died peacefully on November 26, 2022 in her daughter's house in Colorado Springs, Colorado, almost a month after celebrating her ninety-second birthday. Born on October 30, 1930 in Trenton, New Jersey to George and Reba (Stewart) Mack, she started life full of zest and an enduring quest for adventure. Rita was known to all as a steadfast and loving wife, mother, and friend, a woman who was able to find excitement and humor in life's twists and turns. When she married John Murphy of Bordentown, New Jersey in 1951, they started a twenty year adventure with the Air Force. The adventure continued through seventy-one years of marriage, visiting nine countries and forty-seven states. Their travels included several memorable trips to England, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Canada. On a very memorable trip through Canada on their way to Alaska, several large brown bears walked right up to their car, including one inquisitive bear who put his head right up to her car door window. Another memorable trip in Hawaii included an exciting ride in a helicopter flying in and around an active volcano. After their Air Force career, Rita co-managed their two retail clothing stores, The Pants Corner and The Famous. She had a keen business mind, was a lover of Western music, enjoyed camping and the outdoors, and loved visiting many national parks in nearly every state in the nation. She read numerous Mary Higgins Clark novels, true life stories, and biographies, and loved the little dogs they adopted throughout the years, Fea, Precious, Benji, and Angel. Rita is survived by her husband, John Murphy; her son, Terry Murphy of Corpus Christi, Texas; her daughter, Colleen Murphy of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and her sister, Peg Burkett of Whiting, New Jersey. Graveside Service, 2:00PM, Thursday, December 15, 2022, Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925. Celebration of Life, Friday, December 16, 2022, Aspen Trail Retirement Resort, 5455 New Car Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a local hospice, arthritis foundation, or an animal rescue organization of your choice. Events Graveside Thursday, December 15, 2022 2:00PM Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925 Phone: 202-632-8035