PEGGY MARIE STACEY MURPHY - BHS CLASS '49, 1993 REUNION

Bluefield Daily Telegraph:

Dateline: Maryville, Tenn.

Peggy Marie Stacey Murphy (1931-2014)

Peggy Marie Stacey Murphy, 82, formerly of St. Albans, WV, died Friday, February 15, 2014. She was a resident of Shannondale Assisted Living and Healthcare facility, Maryville, Tennessee since December of 2011. She was born to the late McKinley and Bessie Robinson Stacey, May 25, 1931, in Jenkinjones, WV. The “Stacey Girls” are now all reunited in spirit; the late Willie Mae Pennington, Helen Jean Stacey, Betty Jo Stacey and Grace Ramona Stacey.

Peggy graduated from Bramwell High School in 1949 and received a BA and MA in English Literature, with teacher licensure from West Virginia State. Peggy Stacey married the late HAROLD LEE MURPHY on March 21, 1951. Harold was in the Air Force and they lived together in Biloxi, MS and Savannah, GA, before relocating to Morgantown, WV, where Harold received a BA in Business/Accounting from West Virginia University. After taking a job with the C & P Telephone Company, the couple moved to Nitro in 1958 and settled in St. Albans in 1960.

Peggy was a teacher at Fairview Elementary until she retired in the early 80’s. Peggy was passionate about making a difference in the lives of her students. Even after retiring, she continued to make contributions of time and financial support to young students in need. Peggy was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in St. Albans, where she served as deacon and elder.

She loved to travel, taking her family on many trips, including a European vacation, a trip to Ireland and visit to British Columbia. She also traveled with extended family and friends on a cruise to Bermuda, road trip to New England and bus tour to Nova Scotia. Peggy is survived by two children Stacey Lee Murphy Wilner and her husband Kevin in Maryville, TN and Robie Murphy Higgins and her husband Matt in Phoenix, AZ; four grandchildren Kelly Murphy Higgins, Colin Matthew Higgins, Luda Marie Wilner and Lily Louise Wilner; caregivers Darlene Delmoro, Doris Stinnett and Sarah Moore of Maryville, TN.

Memorial donations may be made to: Harmony Family Center, 4901 Montvale Road, Maryville, TN 37803 in Peggy’s honor. A “Nutty Buddy” ice cream party will be held at 4 p.m. Friday for her close friends at Shannondale Assisted Living and Healthcare. Friends are invited to come by the Wilner House, 1911 Kelton Lane, for a “Celebration of Life” from 6-9:00 on Friday evening. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in St. Albans, WV on Saturday, May 24, 2014.