Barbara Murphey lost her three year battle with uterine cancer on August 25, 2018 at Bishop Place Assisted Living in Pullman, Washington.  She was 81.

Barbara was an extremely intelligent, nurturing, and thoughtful person, beloved by all.  She walked through this world with inspirational grace and unconditional love.  She worked hard to support her children and was gifted as an artist; one of her favorite mediums was watercolor. Barbara was an accomplished seamstress, a clever designer and a stained glass maker.  She was an excellent cook, as artistic with flavors as she was with visual media.

Barbara was born on July 7, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Frederick and Dorothea (Fischer) Uecker.  As a child, Barbara stood out in many ways.  She was advanced to second grade midway through her first grade year due to academic and social maturity.  She skipped fifth grade altogether, graduating from High School at age 16.  She had reached her full height of 5' 8 3/4" by the time she was in sixth grade, making her very easy to spot in old class photos!

Barbara had two younger brothers, Freddy and John.  A job change for her father moved the family to St. Clair Shores, Michigan, during her early high school years.  While in high school she excelled academically, was in the honor society and was the editor of the class yearbook.  Upon graduation, she attended Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, transferring to Michigan State prior to her sophomore year.  During her junior year there, she married her first husband and high school classmate Bill Holman. Daughter Kim was born during her senior year in time to attend Barbara's graduation with high honors and a degree in Special Education.

In 1958, she and Bill moved to Idaho to begin Bill's career with the U. S. Forest service.  In 1959, the family moved back east to Virginia for a two year assignment in the U.S. Army.  Son Bill was born at Fort Lee, Virginia, in 1960.  In 1961 the family moved back to Idaho, initially residing in a two room cabin (a far cry from a Philly row house!) at the Kelly Creek ranger station.  Daughters Karen and Susan were both born in Orofino in 1961 and 1963, respectively.  The family moved to Kooskia, Idaho in 1964.  Barbara and Bill divorced in 1967 and Barbara began her career as a special education teacher.   She earned a Master's in Education degree from the University of Idaho in 1971.

In 1971 Barbara married Carl H. Murphey, adding stepchildren Pat, Pam and Matt to the family.  Daughter Jami was born at Cottonwood, Idaho in 1973.  The family moved to Moscow, Idaho in 1974, where Barbara took a position in the College of Education at the University of Idaho.  In 1976 she accepted a position at the Coeur d'Alene Tribal school at Desmet, Idaho, where she worked as a Title I coordinator, special educator and special services coordinator.  In January of 1986, Barbara accepted a job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in their Lapwai, Idaho office as an education specialist.  In this position she supported special education programs at tribal schools in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.  Barbara took great pride in seeking to provide education to all, particularly students historically underserved.

Barbara retired in 2001 and that same year she bought a small home on Main Street in Kendrick, Idaho, so she could be near daughter Jami and her family.  She enjoyed retirement, spending time with grandchildren and participating in community clubs and projects including the publishing team for the KJ7 community newsletter, the KJ Art Commission, co-founder of the book club Book Prowlers, the Hill and Valley Garden Club and Friends of the Juliaetta community library. Barbara was very fond of the Kendrick-Julietta community.

Barbara is preceded in death by brothers Freddy and John and husband Carl.  In addition to her children and stepchildren, she is survived by thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Her family is very thankful for the amazing support that she received in her final days, in particular from the staff of Bishop Place and from Kindred Hospice of Pullman.

A celebration of life service will take place Saturday, September 1 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kendrick Grange Hall.  Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman, WA has been entrusted with arrangements.  The family suggests memorial donations to any of the Kendrick-Juliaetta community clubs or projects, or to the Friends of Hospice.