Mary Murphy, 87, Taught English at Framingham State

Mary Elizabeth (Casey) Murphy, died after a brief illness on December 14, 2014, at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham.

Born in Dorchester on September 8, 1927, she grew up in West Roxbury. She graduated from Roslindale High School, and Trinity College for Women in Washington D.C. She earned her Masters in English at Boston College and her Doctorate in Education at Harvard.

She married Phillip J. Murphy and moved to Framingham in 1952, where they raised a family and became active in local and national politics.

She leaves her son Edward J. Murphy and his wife Anne, her daughter Marianne Wilson and her husband Peter, and her daughter Carol Murphy.

As the family matriarch, Mary sent birthday cards to each of her 12 nieces and nephews, their children and her godchildren. She leaves her beloved grandchildren: Maggie, Ned, Caroline, Peter, Nikki, and Malia as well as two great-grandchildren: Rory and Molly.

Murphy was a tireless advocate for her community and for Democratic causes.

She taught English at Framingham State University from 1962-2002 where she was also President of the Teacher’s Union. She was a mentor not only to her students, but also to those who chose to follow her into the political realm. She was a Framingham Town Meeting member, served on the School Committee, was President of the Framingham Historical Society, was active in the League of Women Voters and the Democratic Town Committee. She was a Democratic Presidential delegate in Chicago (1968), San Francisco (1980), and New York (1984).

There will be a private burial service for family members.

A celebration of her life will take place at the Village Hall on the Framingham Centre Common on Saturday, January 3, 2015 from 2 to 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to the Framingham History Center, P.O. Box 2032, Framingham, MA 01703.

Funeral arrangements by Norton Funeral Home.