Sandra “Sandy” Murphy passed away peacefully on December 6th, 2025. Born on November 29th, 1951, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Duane and Louise (Smith) Orth.
From Indianapolis, Sandy and Louise moved to Colorado while Duane was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. When he returned, the family moved to Wray, Colorado. While living in Wray, Sandy’s brother Danny was born in 1954, and sister Debbie in 1955. Shortly after, Danny was diagnosed with leukemia, and the family took many trips to Denver for his treatment, which Sandy remembered well and told her granddaughter Ryleigh about in future years. Danny then passed at age 5 (1959), while Sandy was 8, and Debbie was 4. Even through hardship, Duane continued teaching, but decided the family needed a change, so they moved to North Bend, Oregon. Duane started to miss his family, so they moved back to Wray, where he continued teaching until 1966. That same year, Duane got a job at North Platte Junior College, so the family packed up and went to Nebraska. Sandy was in the 10th grade there, where she participated in cheerleading and enjoyed it. It was a short time in Nebraska before they moved to Eagle, where Sandy would later graduate in 1969. Sandy then went on to attend college in Chadron, Nebraska, then to the University of Wyoming shortly. Duane and Louise moved back to Wray in 1973. Sandy stayed in Torrington, Wyoming, before coming back to Wray and meeting Mike Murphy. She and Mike married on December 5th, 1981. Around a year later, on December 27th, 1982, they welcomed their daughter Jessi Leigh into the world. Then on March 30th, 1987, their son Bobby Lynn was born.
Throughout Sandy’s life, she wore many hats. She was a bartender, florist, book keeper, and many more, but her favorite title was grandma. On July 27th, 2010, her grand-daughter Ryleigh Kay was born. Sandy later became her best friend and biggest supporter at any event she had, but most of all at her volleyball games, which she got to enjoy when she moved to Greeley after she retired. Sandy’s biggest hobbies included painting, crafting, trivia, and gardening. With trivia, she was always everyone’s favorite partner. She could remember every little detail, no matter the topic. Whatever it was, she had a creative touch that made whatever she was working on beautiful. Her granddaughter Ryleigh says that painting cute little ceramic decorations was one of her fondest memories with Sandy. During the warmer months, she bought tons of flowers and worked hard to ensure the garden was beautiful. One of her biggest traits, among many others, was her creativity.
Sandy is survived by her children, Jessi (Brad) Hertzke, and Bobby (Beckie) Murphy, granddaughter Ryleigh Hertzke, Sister, Debbie (Tim) Vollmer, sisters-in-law, Paula (Rich) Kline, and Tracy (Bruce) Zulauf, brother-in-law, Toby (Kathy) Murphy, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Duane and Louise Orth, Brother Danny Orth, and Husband Mike Murphy.
A celebration of life will be held on January 30th, 2026, at the Lutheran Church Round Building in Yuma, CO, where family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children’s Hospital in Denver.