1923 – 2015

LEEDS — Dorothy “Claire” Robertson Murphy, 92, a resident of Leeds, died peacefully, Friday, March 20, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

She was born March 7, 1923, in Providence, R.I., the daughter of William R. and Mary J. (O’Connor) Robertson. She was a 1942 graduate of East Providence High School.

On Sept. 30, 1950, in East Providence, R.I., she married John J. Murphy; he died March 4, 1984.

Claire worked briefly at The Boston Store in Providence prior to moving with her husband to Maine in 1945.

Claire devoted her time caring for her husband and their four children, Mary, John “Bud,” Bill and Michael. She enjoyed attending her children’s sports activities and events. Claire made frequent trips to Rhode Island to visit family and friends. She was also the bookkeeper for many years for Murphy Bros. in Leeds, belonging to her husband and brother-in-law. Claire enjoyed bingo, bowling, celebrating her friends’ birthdays and cooking. She also enjoyed apple and blueberry picking and gardening. Her baked beans, apple and blueberry pies and shredded wheat bread were legendary.

She leaves behind her daughter, Mary Field of Leeds; three sons, John Murphy Jr. and wife, Jaye, of Leeds, Bill Murphy and wife, Angela, of Turner, and Michael Murphy and wife, Gerry, of Leeds; grandchildren, Sara Murphy Thistle and husband, Jeremy, of Turner, Heather Murphy Van Deusen and husband, Derrek, of Leeds, Sean Murphy of Portland, John Murphy III and wife, Sahar, of San Francisco, Calif., Jeb Murphy of Wayne, Joshua Murphy and wife, Mallory, of Leeds, and Rebecca Field Gagnon and husband, Eric, of Auburn; four great-grandchildren, Jayna and Brynn Thistle of Turner and Madailein and Dominic Van Deusen of Leeds.

Claire was predeceased by her parents; her in-laws, Keeran and Elizabeth Murphy; her husband of 33 years, John Murphy Sr.; brother-in-law, Keeran Murphy Jr.; sister-in-law, Helen Claire Murphy; son-in-law, Lawrence Field; and siblings, Louise Jordan, Isabelle Doherty, Harriet Lind, Rose Helen Duffy, William R. Robertson, Mary J. Wotherspoon, Edith Wetzelaer, Elizabeth Kenyon, John W. Robertson, James D. Robertson, Alice Baker and Phyllis and Bernice Robertson.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

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