Frances Lyle Morphy

Frances Morphy, age 77, died of sudden heart failure on December 10, 2017, at her home at Villa Valencia in Laguna Hills, California.  Frances was born March 23, 1940 in Flushing, New York to Jesse Lyman Hurlbut and Alice Smith Hurlbut.

Her family moved to Larkspur, California in 1945 and she attended school in the area until 1958, when she graduated from Sir Francis Drake High School.  She went on to major in Education at the University of Arizona, where she was active in the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Frances, her husband Mike Morphy, and two daughters, Allison and Kelly, lived in Santa Rosa and Cupertino, California.  After her divorce, she raised her daughters primarily as a single mother, and worked to support her family through customer service jobs in the semiconductor and telecommunications industries in Silicon Valley.  She supported her daughters’ friends and activities through their high school and college years.

She developed new hobbies and interests as her daughters matured, such as learning to teach English as a Second Language, rollerblading, and assisting students in the Dale Carnegie public speaking and human relations course.  She also enjoyed travels with her daughters to Costa Rica, Brazil, Alaska, and the East Coast.

Frances retired in 2002 and moved to Orange County to live closer to her new grandchildren and daughter’s family.  She loved and enjoyed many outings and gatherings with them.  She was active in the deacon ministry at Irvine Presbyterian Church and served on the board of her condominium association in Foothill Ranch. 

Frances loved a good book, a funny story, and flavorful food served at the right temperature!  She liked to walk in Laguna Beach, play Rummikub, and call bingo at Villa Valencia.  She loved to arrange flowers and dress in fashionable clothes in bright colors.  She loved sweets and trips to the “candy store” with her grandchildren. 

Frances is survived by her daughters, Allison Kenyon, of Irvine; Kelly Morphy, of Sausalito; son-in-law, Mike Kenyon, of Irvine; grandchildren, Austin Kenyon, 16, and Kylie Kenyon, 14, also of Irvine; sister, Martha McGill, of Surprise, Arizona; and other nieces and nephews.  She will be greatly missed!

Frances’ life will be celebrated through a memorial service at Irvine Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 20 at 2:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made either to Northwood HS FCA Huddle, 92 Montrose, Irvine, CA  92620, or Big Brother/Big Sister of North [San Francisco] Bay.

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