Kristi Suzette Murphy

Kristi Murphy, 53, of Columbia, MO, (formerly of Unionville) passed away unexpectedly in St. Genevieve, MO, on Saturday, November 17, 2012.

Kristi Suzette Murphy was born in Centerville, IA, on April 11, 1959, the daughter of Richard and Kathy Murphy. She was reared in Putnam County, MO, and attended Putnam County R-1 High School. She graduated from Indian Hills Community College with a nursing degree and then began a 32 year nursing career in which she worked at Putnam County Memorial Hospital and large hospitals in Dallas, TX. She worked for the past 24 years at three veteran’s hospitals, first in Salt Lake City, UT, for four years, then Omaha, NE, for 14 years and most recently at the VA hospital in Columbia, MO. She was well respected by her peers and was recognized with awards on numerous occasions for her outstanding care. She loved her veteran patients, often calling them “America’s Finest.”

Kristi was a fun-loving and adventurous person who loved the outdoors including the family farm, swimming, biking, and canoe floating on Jack’s Fork River. She liked to play jokes on the family and had a fun, competitive spirit. Kristi was an avid reader, especially of history and learning about the Civil War. She was also a good story teller. She liked people and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Kristi is survived by four sons, Jesse Knowles and wife Mary of Unionville, MO, Joshua Mastin of Omaha, NE, Delbert Mastin and wife Jill of Hastings, IA, and Murphy Mastin of Columbia, MO. Eleven grandchildren also survive. Other survivors are Kristi’s mother, Kathy Murphy of Unionville, MO, and brothers Kyle Murphy and wife Linda of Kansas City, MO, Kameron Murphy and wife Christy of St. Louis, MO, and sisters Kelly Bruce and husband Bob of Lucerne, MO, and Kerri Holland and husband Verl of Powersville, MO. A sister-in-law, Kara Murphy survives as well as four aunts and uncles: Kay & Sam Robinson, Tommy Clark, Annette and Derek Yoshikawa, and Tammy and Roger Casady. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Kristi was preceded in death by her father, Richard Murphy, a brother, Kent Murphy, and a son who died in infancy, John Curtis Knowles.

Funeral service for Kristi Murphy will be at Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, on Friday, November 23, at 2:00 pm with a visitation beginning at 1:00 pm. Pastor Kevin Collins will conduct the service with recorded musical selections “Into the Mystic,” “Dust in the Wind,” and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” Honorary pall bearers will be Morgen Murphy, Mitchell Murphy, Austin Bruce, Riley Bruce, Jake Holland, Byron “Bub” Michael, and Monte Michael.
Cremation will follow later and interment will be a private family burial.

Memorials for Kristi Murphy are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Union Cemetery and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.