ROSA LYNETTE (WOOTEN) MURPHY
Rosa Lynette (Wooten) Murphy passed away Oct. 10, 2020, at her home in Mexia. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, at First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Marcus Sheffield officiating. Interment will follow at the Mexia Cemetery. Jason Cate, Daniel Cate, Anthony Farris, Ray Berard, Chris Byrd, Tim Danner and Michael Godsoe will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Amick, Todd Amick, Jody Amick, Jan Harrison, J. T. Vickery, Todd Craig and Terry Don Shivers.
Lynette was the second child born to Robert Ealem and Lillie Mae (McMinn) Wooten, on Dec. 13, 1925, in Delia; her older sister was Elaine (Wooten) Rogers. Lynette was a tomboy that loved riding her stick horse and playing outside with her dogs. She attended Coolidge schools, worked at the Café in Coolidge and J.C. Penney’s in Mexia, where she met Maurice Wells. They married in 1945. From this union, three children were born, Wynters Elaine, Paula Jane and Deborah Lynette.
Lynette worked at the Mexia State School several times, and the Wortham Hospital as a Laboratory Technician. She retired from the Mexia State School after approximately 30 years of service.
She married Arnold G. Murphy in 1968 and welcomed his two children, Frank G. and Renee into the family. Lynette loved going to Marble Falls on vacation and enjoyed going on numerous trips with the First Baptist Church group, where she was a member, and went on a cruise, even though she was terrified of water. Lynette loved and always had dogs and horses. She was a member of the Mexia Garden Club, for many years, and served as their photographer for a year or two.
Once the grandchildren came along, Lynette became “Granny Nett” to them and all their friends. She really enjoyed being a grandmother and great-grandmother. They loved to cut up with her and make her laugh, which she loved to do; whatever they wanted to do was alright with her.
Whenever Lynette gave a monetary gift to her children and they protested, she would say “I have spoken”! However, she didn’t like it when the table was turned, and they used the same statement when giving her a monetary gift.
Lynette was a sweet, compassionate and generous lady who always tried to have a positive attitude and liked to instill it in others. She was a caregiver for all the family, from helping her parents, sister and her husband, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and other relatives. Lynette was spunky until about 92, then she began to slow down as Alzheimers was setting in, but she kept going. “Amazing” is the word that a lot of people have used to describe Lynette.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Elaine Rogers and husband, Jimmy; her husband, Arnold Murphy; and her last little companion, Smokey.
Lynette is survived by her children, Wynters Elaine Cate and husband Gail, of Mexia, Paula J. Wells, of Mexia, and Deborah Lynette Sims and husband Ronnie, of Groesbeck, Frank Murphy of Macon, Ga., and Renee Winans and husband Rick, of Glennville, Penn.; grandchildren Jason Cate and wife Kelley, of Groesbeck, Daniel Cate and wife Susie, of Bosqueville, April Cate and Ray Berard, of Dallas, Amanda Jo Danner and husband Tim, of Mexia, Anthony Farris and wife Stephanie, of Mexia, Jessie Byrd and husband Chris, of Mexia, Hannah Godsoe and husband Michael, of McKinney, Jennifer Sterling and husband Chris, of Glenville, Penn., and Matthew Winans, of Westminister, Md.; and 11 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jerry Simmons and staff; Providence Hospice in Mexia, especially, Amanda Jo Danner, Laura Gore, Erica and Nina for their excellent care; her very special caregiver, Morgan Welch, and the Rev. Marcus Sheffield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence Hospice, 107 E. Commerce, Mexia, TX 76667.
Visit www.blair-stubbs.com to leave the family a message of condolence or sign the guestbook.
