Evelyn Dawn Murphy; 28-Year Oxnard Resident

Evelyn Dawn Murphy, homemaker and 28-year Oxnard resident, died at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard on Sunday. She was 81.

She was born Evelyn McColloch on Dec. 23, 1917, in Scranton, Iowa, and grew up with 12 brothers and sisters. She attended school in Forest City, Iowa.

On July 4, 1936, she met Herbert Myron Murphy and they were married three months later.

The couple moved to San Francisco in 1942 and later to Oxnard.

One of the Murphys’ daughters, Kim, of Oxnard, said her mother loved cooking and baking. She was especially good at baking pies, cookies and peanut brittle. She also prepared delicious soup.

Murphy had just returned Friday from a family reunion in Iowa, which her daughter said she enjoyed immensely.

In addition to her husband and daughter, she is survived by son Michael of Camarillo, daughters Judi Dempsey of Carlsbad and Sandra Neal of Long Beach; stepdaughter Jean Metcalf of Madras, Ore.; sisters Leotha George, Mae Riherd, Betty Nelson and Jackie Monson, all of Iowa, and Wilma Lea of Paso Robles; brothers Chester McColloch of Minneapolis and Warren McColloch of Iowa; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled at 1 p.m. Friday at the Camino del Sol Chapel with the Rev. Abe Lara officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Guardian Memorial Center & Funeral Home.