Mary Ann Murphy

Mary Ann Pryor Murphy passed away peacefully and surrounded by her loving family at her home in Columbia, Tennessee on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

A native of Springfield, Tennessee in Robertson County, Ann was the daughter of Robert E. Lee and Mary Alice Moulton Pryor. She was one of four children and often shared fond memories of growing up on the farm with her siblings and cousins.

She graduated from Coopertown High School in Robertson County. There, she would meet her eventual husband, Larry Murphy. Ann and Larry wed in 1953 and enjoyed a long and loving marriage that spanned nearly seventy years.

Ann retired from the Rosewood Manor Nursing Facility, where she served as the activity director. Prior to that, she also worked under the late Dr. John W. Harris, at the dental offices of Dr. Mickey Holland and Victor Beck, and at the dental office of Dr. David Foster and Dr. Andy Woodard.

She was a member of Craft Memorial Methodist Church six decades. She loved her church family and often volunteered alongside them. If you ever visited the church’s Christmas nativity scene, you spotted her favorite role as one of the nativity’s peasants.

Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband Larry, her parents, brother Robert L. Pryor, sister-in-law Muriel Reeves Pryor, sister Jenny Ramsey, and brother-in-law Chuck Ramsey.

She is survived by her two children, Marty (Robin) Murphy of Greenbrier, TN and Kathy Murphy (Dean) Mulholland of Mt. Pleasant, TN; seven grandchildren, Michael Parker of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Ryan (Hannah) Murphy of Mt. Juliet, TN, Ben Pruitt of Mt. Pleasant , TN, Alex (Alison) Vehring of Orange Park, FL, Scout (Jared) Vehring of Nashville, TN, Lynn (Peter) Buettell of Vero Beach, FL, and Vicky Mulholland of Vero Beach, FL; eight great grandchildren, Dylan and Colby Murphy, Sophia, Raylan, and Tommy Vehring, Arie Buettell, and Ethan and Camden Mulholland; her sister Margaret (Bobby) Jones of Lebanon, TN, and many other nieces, nephews and cousins, each of whom she loved dearly.

In addition to her family, Ann also leaves behind countless friends who adored her sunny disposition, snarky sense of humor, and unending love and support for “her people.” Ann was a social butterfly, especially on Facebook, where she shared her light with so many. Her love for her people was unconditional.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 6 at Springfield Memorial Gardens in Springfield, TN.

Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include members of the 1952- 1953 graduating class at Coopertown High School, members of Craft Memorial Methodist Church, friends, and relatives.

Honorary memorials may be made to Craft Memorial Methodist Church or a charity of your choice, per Ann’s request.

The Murphy family would like to extend their gratitude to the team of outstanding professionals at Compassus Hospice Care for the exceptional care they have provided Ann since January. They would like to offer their special thanks specifically to Jennifer, Pam, Keila, and Heather for their excellent clinical care, and to Nicole, Alex, and Heather for their administrative support during this time.