Rose Marie Murphy was born on August 6, 1956 in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Ervin Eugene and Barbara Ruth (Benedict) Wilcoxson. Rose entered into eternal peace on Friday, December 4, 2009 at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Rose's early years were spent in the Shenandoah area. She graduated from Farragut High School. She later lived in San Angelo and Gonzales, Texas. On October 4, 1986 she was united in marriage to Myrl Murphy. They later returned to Shenandoah to be closer to their family. The couple was blessed with 20 years of marriage before Myrl's passing on November 13, 2006.

Rose worked for several motels as a housekeeper including the Motel 6, the Hawkeye Motel, and Days Inn. She also worked as a security guard at Pella Corp. and the Horseshoe Casino.

She was preceded in death by her mother Barbara Johnson, husband Myrl Murphy, grandson Seth Padilla, and sister Paulette.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters Marsha Terry and husband Jon, Melissa Mick and husband Lonnie, and Martha Comstock and husband Donald; son Doug Sexton and wife Sandy; 17 grandchildren; father Ervin Wilcoxson and wife Debra; brothers Rodney Wilcoxson, Emmit Johnson, Ervin Murphy and wife Michelle, and Ed Johnson and wife Pat; six sisters Sue Kinney and husband Dave, Kay McEnaney and husband Leon, Erma Grill and husband Dale, Rhonda Shane and husband Jim, Mary McAllister and husband Evan, Tina Nail and husband Curtis, and Amanda Corzette; dog Theodore Marie Terry ; other relatives, and friends.