Violet Mae Murphy

Violet Mae Murphy (née White) passed away on August 8, 2021, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born on May 15, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan, the third and youngest daughter of Viola and Cyril White. After working as a pediatric nurse for several years, she took a break following the birth of her son Jeffrey Sean in 1966 and daughter Elizabeth Mae in 1971 with Eugene Thompson. Later, she completed her Master’s degree with honors in Clinical Psychology and spent the remainder of her professional career as a licensed clinical psychologist at Borgess Hospital. Vi was married to John Murphy from 1977 until his death in 2000. Their years were spent raising her two children and his three children from a prior marriage (Mike, Tom, and Sarah). She took great pride in creating lush gardens that surrounded their home, and later establishing her role of “world’s greatest grandmother” to her four grandchildren. In 2009, Vi and David Isaacson became committed partners, enjoying many years of travels and adventures. Vi was a life-long Detroit Tigers fan, an avid traveler, an aficionado of films from the Golden Era of Hollywood, a fan of the arts, and a lover of sunsets over Lake Michigan in South Haven. Vi is preceded in death by her parents (Cyril and Viola White), her sisters Gloria Schommer and Anita Babin, and her husband John Murphy. She is survived by her son Jeffrey Thompson (Susan Cole) and daughter Elizabeth Koperdak (Jim Krause), her four grandchildren (Adriane Thompson, and Alexis, Nicholas, and Emily Koperdak, and their father Alex Koperdak), her partner David Isaacson, and many other beloved family and friends. Details regarding a memorial service will be announced in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hospice of Southwest Michigan, American Cancer Society, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the Kalamazoo Film Society, or the Western Michigan Theatre Program. The family is being served by Avink Funeral Home in Portage 269 344 5600.