Erica Murphy

Erica Joan Murphy, age 42, of Oakley, passed away May 29, 2022, at Logan County Hospital from a 14-month fight with cancer, with her loving family at her side. On March 19, 1980, she was born in Eureka, KS to Jack and Carol (Lumley) Deniston. She was a graduate of Scott Community High School in Scott City KS, she attended Colby Community College where she studied to be a vet tech. She was a member of the Oakley Christian Church in Oakley, KS.



Erica was united in marriage to the love of her life, Michael James Murphy on June 19, 2020.



Erica worked for Dr. Bowers, veterinarian, in Colby; Loves, in Colby; as a para for the school system in Oakley, as a CNA, and a Certified Medical coder for Logan County Health Services and her most recent job as a Certified coder for Logan County Hospital in Oakley.



Erica enjoyed the outdoors. She loved to play softball each summer. Hunting was the highlight of her winter activities and fishing was the thing she enjoyed most in the summer. She and Mike could sit on the boat on a lake from sunup to dark fishing. Most days they would catch their limit.



Erica loved gardening and canning the vegetables she grew. She also raised goats. On her birthday in 2021, one of her expectant mamma goats was sick and about to die, which would have caused the unborn baby goats to die. With the help of a vet over the phone, she was able to do a C-section and deliver three small but healthy baby goats that she named Three, Nineteen, and Eighty, her birthdate.



She loved all animals. Malaika, a german shepherd, was one of her favorite dogs, though she has long since passed. Last year, Erica needed a support animal to help her get through cancer. She got Todd and he gave her so much joy.



She loved her house plants and she had several in her office at work. She even managed to grow an avocado tree from a seed.



As the children, Chloe, Jakob, Taylor, and Wyatt grew up, Erica and Mike spent a lot of time attending their activities such as Cross Country, Forensics, Choir, Football, and Wrestling. She loved her kids and was very proud of them. She also enjoyed her grandchildren, Paxton, Aviah, Theodore, and Jonah.



Her loving family includes her parents, Jack and Carol Deniston; husband, Mike; sister, Elise, and niece Hayla Edwards; daughter, Chloe Bley; son Jakob Bley; stepsons, Taylor Murphy (Nikki) and Wyatt Murphy (Baylee); second daughter Avery Evins; grandmother Aline McKenzie and grandchildren, Paxton, Aviah, Theodore and Jonah Murphy.



Preceding her in death were grandparents, Marvin and Evelene Lumley, Earl Deniston, and Bill McKenzie.



Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2022, at the Oakley Christian Church. Funeral Service is 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 4, 2022, also at the church, with burial in the Oakley City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or to leave condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com