Marci Murphy

Marci Murphy (née Grill), of Saint Charles, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the age of 74. Marci was born October 12, 1951, in East St. Louis, Illinois. She attended St. Theresa’s Academy in East St. Louis and later graduated from St. Mary’s College of Nursing in O’Fallon, Missouri. A proud nurse for more than 20 years, Marci dedicated much of her life to caring for others - a calling that reflected the compassion and generosity she carried into every part of her life.

Marci married Bob Murphy in St. Louis, and together they shared 32 years of marriage. She was a dedicated member of VFW Post 2866 Auxiliary, where she held many integral roles over the years and generously gave her time in support of veterans, their families, and the VFW community.

Family was at the center of Marci’s life. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren fiercely, and she embraced extended family as her own. She had a way of making everyone feel special, often through small, thoughtful gestures that let people know they were loved.

Marci was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Genevieve Grill, and her brother, Dr. Frank A. Grill.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Robert Murphy, and their children, Michelle (Bart) Niedner, Kevin (Kerry) Buese, Kelly (Dennis) Hantak, Ph.D., Julie Murphy (Jeff Wagener), and Patrick (Kristy) Murphy, her sister-in-law, Dr. Kim Kolonich; niece, Dr. Renee Grill (Nicholas Lorenz); nephew, Frank P. (Anne-Marie) Grill and their family; as well as Bob’s siblings and their families, with whom she shared a close and loving relationship.

Her beloved grandchildren include Troy (Kinsey) LaChance; Max LaChance (Morgan Hayes); Matthew Buese (Hannah LaChance); Jared (Zoe) Buese; Landon Waldhauser; Titania Niedner (Matt Nussbaum); Kelcie (Chris) LeBlanc; Ronnie Miller (Brooke Terry); Zach Hantak (Mackenzie Hoskins); Andrew Hantak; Patrick and Maggie Finn; and Harper, Rowan, and Graham Murphy. Her cherished great-grandchildren include Elizabeth; Jaraiyah, Rowan, and Waylon; Rhea; Summer and Lorelai.

Marci was blessed with so many friendships. Some that spanned decades going back to childhood, others she built through her nursing and so many from VFW. She loved playing bingo and was an avid reader. Her faith remained an important and enduring part of her life.

Those who knew Marci knew how freely she gave of herself. Her kindness was rarely about grand gestures. It was found in the time she gave, the celebrations she made special, the people she cared for, and the many quiet ways she made others feel valued and loved. Her career in nursing, her service to veterans and their families, her friendships, and above all, her devotion to her family were all expressions of the same generous heart.

To her family, Marci was a source of strength, love, and constancy. She spent her life caring for people, asking little in return. The lives she touched and the family she loved are her legacy. Perhaps Bob said it best: “She was one of the good ones. Good to the core. She cared deeply, she loved her family deeply, and she’s irreplaceable.”

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Marci can be made to VFW Auxiliary of Kohl-Jack 2866 at 66 VFW Lane, St. Charles, MO 63303.