Beth Murphy

1947 - 2025

Beth Murphy
05/12/1947 - 03/05/2025
Beth Murphy, aka Genevieve McElroy, was born in Berkeley, California, an eighth generation Californian, and grew up in Oakland, where she would live most of her life. She graduated from UC Berkeley, and during Christmas and summer vacations, she started working in Yosemite National Park. She spent two summers working at the Old Glacier Point Hotel before it burned down. She also worked one Christmas as a waitress at the Ahwahnee Hotel, where she served the traditional Bracebridge Dinner, as well as several other locations in the park. After getting her teaching credential in San Diego, she was fortunate to get a teaching job at the little school in Yosemite Valley where she taught a third and fourth grade, combined class. A little two-bedroom, one bath house came with the job. Her house had a view of Yosemite Falls which was a short walk away. During this time Beth started dating Covert, who she married. After moving to Oakland, Beth and Covert had a son, Sean, and enjoyed many trips to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, the Eastern Sierra and Hawaii. Beth noticed and loved color in all its forms -- the deep blue color of Lake Tahoe, the ocean, mountains, lakes, creeks, rocks, trees, wild flowers, succulents, roses and flowers of all kinds.
Beth was very smart and had an incredible memory. She had interests in all sorts of subjects, including art, plants, trees, geology of the Sierra, and she enjoyed reading all sorts of subjects, which continued during her illness. She always kept a dictionary by her while reading to look up any word she didn't know. Near the end, when she could no longer read, she had Sean read to her. In addition, Beth was a prolific writer and photographer who used words and pictures to chronicle trips and experiences, many of which are recorded in poetry.
Beth's collection of plants is amazing. She had all kinds of plants including tropicals, roses, succulents, trees of the Sierra Nevada in pots, and cacti. She hybridized her own roses and grew them in her rose bed and pots. At one time, she had articles about plants published the San Francisco Chronicle. She has 90 indoor potted plants and a like number outside, including an in-ground succulent garden. She knew the scientific names of all the plants and knew how to keep them happy and growing.
Beth had a whimsical sense of humor, loved puns and loved to share her knowledge and interests with everyone. She is missed.
A funeral for Beth will be held at Church of St. Theresa in Oakland on April 12 at 11 AM.