Grace Murphy, 91, of Hays, passed away at Hays Medical Center on Friday, February 10th, 2012, after a brief hospitalization. She was born Grace Aileen Rundell on the Rundell family farm near Pierceville, Kansas, to Ray Albert Rundell and Beryl Ozelle Prater Rundell. She graduated in 1937 from Pierceville High School and attended Garden City Junior College. In 1940, she married L. Paul Murphy, a native of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. During Paul's World War II U.S. Army service, Grace worked at Kansas City's Lake City Ordinance Plant and, in 1947, they moved with their young sons, Don and Bob, to Hays to open a branch of Rundell-Lightner Welding Supply. Over the next 25 years, Grace and Paul added four more children -- Paula, Kevin, Nancy and Linda -- and Grace became active in church, school, and community activities. She was a charter member of her sewing club and Sorosis Club, both founded more than 60 years ago. At the Methodist church, Grace served in various capacities over the years, including the launch of the annual Peddlar's Fair, Ladies Circle, and also served as a Trustee. She represented Newcomer's Greeting Service in Hays and, together with Paul, began a career in rental property management, taking on the management of Epworth Village, then adding Centennial Towers, Epworth Towers, Hays Plaza and Hays Commons. Grace served on the Methodist church's housing board for many of these years and was active in the development of the church's Epworth projects. Grace retired more than 10 years ago to enjoy more time with family and friends. She took great pleasure in her daily conversations with family and her many lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by Paul; a brother, Elton; and a sister, Marie. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law Walter and Esther Rundell, Pierceville, Kansas; a sister and brother-in-law, Alethea and Walter Weldon, Mesquite, Texas; a sister-in-law, Kay Murphy, Maryville, Missouri; son Don and wife Carole Murphy, Lousiville, KY; son Bob and wife Cathy Murphy, Lewisville, TX; daughter Paula and husband Larry Brin, Hutchinson, KS; son Kevin and wife Kay Murphy, Oklahoma City, OK; daughter Nancy and husband Tony Ward, Birmingham, AL; daughter Linda and husband John Tavlarios, Darien, CT; grandchildren Kim Gomez, Kellie Connell, Matt, Michael, and Andrew Ward; Kyle Murphy, Carrie Martin, Allison Vaughn, Courtney, Ashley, and Scott, Brin, Tony Murphy, and George and Harry Tavlarios. Great-grandchildren: Amanda Gomez, Madison and Kendra Connell, Xander and Avalyn Ward, Braden and Vivienne Ward, and Kate Murphy; and many treasured nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at First United Methodist Church, Seventh and Ash Streets, Hays, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church in celebration of Grace's life and service to the church. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com