Kathryn Marilyn Murphy of Oakland, CA, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved her dearly.
Here is a glimpse of the life she lived, in her family's own remembrance.
The ordinary days are often the ones we miss most.
Kate was born in Los Angeles, California to Barbara and Frank Murphy. She grew up in southern California until Lockheed transferred her father to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Her higher education began in Olympia, WA at Saint Martin's Benedictine College. Following her Bachelor's degree, she entered law school in San Francisco, CA.
After passing the bar exam, Kate started her successful law career beginning with her admittance admitted to the California State Bar Association in 1980. She spent her first year as a Law Clerk/Associate Attorney with DiMaria & Ferguson before deciding to go start a solo law practice in 1981. She also went back to school at that time and earned a Masters in Tax in 1984 from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
Three years later, she chose to join the law firm of Henson & Henson as an Associate Attorney. Her desire to keep learning and better understand people led her earn a Master's in Social Work in 1993 from the California State University – Sacramento while still working at the firm, Ultimately, she returned to private practice in 2001 where she remained an active estate/probate attorney for the next 25 years.
When Kate met Angela Hunkler, she knew she had found the "love of her life". Angela and Kate were married in 2008. They spent several years living in Berkeley before becoming two of the first residents at Phoenix Commons, a co-housing community in Oakland, CA, where they became an integral part of the community developing many beautiful friendships along the way.
On a personal level, Kate loved all types of Asian and Mediterranean food. She and Angela enjoyed long walks especially when they vacationed on the coast in Mendicino, CA. Kate was an exquisite quilter creating works of art for friends and family. She and Angela loved birds. They had a series of birds, the last of which was bright yellow canary, fondly known as Mr. Lemone.
Kate will be greatly missed by her may friends at Phoenix Commons and beyond, but especially by her sister, Marla Mason, her two nephews and their wives, Robert & Bobbie and Mark & Karina, her grand-nieces, Madison, Kennedy, and Sabrina, and grand-nephew Michael.
