Mary Belle McCarty Murphy

Mary Belle McCarty Murphy, age 80, of Oliver Springs, went home to be with the Lord, Sunday, June 3, 2012, at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center, Knoxville.
She was born December 25, 1931, in Oliver Springs. She was a lifelong resident of this area.
She was a homemaker, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She was a faithful Christian and a member of Beech Park Missionary Baptist Church. She loved life and she loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her church was very important to her. She sang regularly in the church choir, she taught Sunday School and worked in Vacation Bible School. She loved working with small children and encouraging the youth. She had so many friends at church it would be impossible to name them. Additionally she had special neighbors who watched over her. She enjoyed square dancing with all her special friends at Norris and Lenoir City. All who knew her loved her and she will be greatly missed by her family, church and friends.
She left behind a great legacy of love and hope and we thank you God for sharing her with us.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles L. McCarty; by parents George and Lydia Jones Edmonds; by a brother, Samuel Edmonds; and by a brother-in-law, Carl Thornton.
Survivors include a son Steve McCarty and wife, Pam, Heiskel; daughters Gail Turpin and husband, Doug, Harriman, Lynn Bowling and husband, Ted, Oliver Springs, and Carol McIlwain, Harriman; grandchildren; Todd McCarty, Paula Fowler, Danielle Key and husband, Joseph, Mary Ann Evans and husband, Kenny, Charles Johnson and wife, Lisa, Shawna Turner and husband, Scott, Scott Mitchell, Jennifer Mitchell and husband, Jonathan, Samuel McIlwain and wife, Robin and Casey McIlwain; great-grandchildren; Bethany and Madison Fowler, Jansen Key, Tyler, Lane and Savanna Evans, Charles, Kayla and Lexie Johnson, Eli, Levi and Ella Grace Turner, Nikki Mitchell, Andrew Hill, Olivia Mitchell, Serenatie McIlwain, Damien McIlwain, Jackson Lawson, Ryleigh Taylor, Emelia McIlwain and Alissa McIlwain.
She is also survived by brothers, Dr. Billy Edmonds and wife, Imogene, David Edmonds and wife, Phyllis, all of Oliver Springs; sisters Betty Thornton of Coalfield, and Alberta Carroll and husband, Jeff of Saraland, AL.; sister-in-law, Eleanor Edmonds, Harriman, and by several nieces, nephews, extended family members and special friends including Darron Westbrook.
The family will receive guests at Beech Park Missionary Baptist Church, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 9. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary, with Pastor Robbie Leach officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorial contributions be made to Beech Park Missionary Baptist Church. Sharp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.sharpfh.com