Patricia Ann “Pat” Murphy, 94, Hays, died Monday, February 23, 2026 at Via Christi Village in Hays.
She was born July 30, 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri the daughter of George W. and Almira E. (Haberstock) Murphy. Pat began her education at St. Mary’s Grade School and in 1949 she graduated from Gorham Rural High School and then attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas for two years. She later transferred to Fort Hays State University and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1956 and her Master’s Degree in 1969.
Her teaching career started in 1951 in a one room school house 12 miles south of Walker, Kansas where she taught all eight grades to twenty-one students. In addition to this Ellis County School, Pat’s teaching career expanded to teaching 1st and 2nd grades in Bunker Hill, Kansas, Salina, Kansas, Fort Morgan, Colorado, and overseas for the United States Air Force. It was with the Air Force that she taught in Goose Bay, Labrador; Tokyo, Japan; and Chambly, France. She finished her 31 years of teaching in Boulder City, Nevada, retiring in 1985.
Pat was busy as ever in retirement as she cared for her aging parents, and often visited Brookdale Assisted Living to pray the rosary with Catholic residents. She volunteered at Old Fort Hays for 26 years and was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and served on the parish council, was eucharistic minister, and taught CCD in Gorham, Boulder City, and overseas. Pat enjoyed traveling and painting pictures for her family, friends, and neighbors.
Survivors include three brothers, Bill Murphy and John Murphy (Judy) of Gorham and Tom Murphy (Josephine) of Russell, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister-in-law, Janice Murphy.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Monday, March 2, 2026 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Nick Parker officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery in Gorham. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Monday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service and rosary will be at 6:00 pm on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and memories and condolences of Pat may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com