Gale Ann Murphy

Gale Ann Murphy, who was a resident at the MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at 1650 Champlin Ave., Utica, NY 13502 for the past 3 years, passed away with her family close by her side on Saturday evening, May 24, 2025. She was 83 years old. She had courageously fought and overcome many difficult health challenges over the years, but finally went home to be with our Lord, Jesus Christ just after 10pm on Saturday. She is already sorely missed by her children and family. Gale was born in Plattsburgh, NY, on November 7, 1941. She grew up there and attended Plattsburgh High School. During this time, she worked as a cashier at the Strand Champlain Theater. She also babysat throughout that time. Gale graduated in June of 1960 with a degree in Home Economics and Math. After this, she worked in other roles, until September of 1962, when she attended Our Lady of Victory Secretarial School for one year, studying as a Clerk/Typist. She was a very hard worker and held many civil service positions over the years. Gale was a very loving, caring, genuine and giving person. She considered her love for God, and her family to be her most important purposes of life. She was very intelligent, resourceful, and an excellent problem-solver. Gale was an explorer at heart and loved taking long drives to new places for hours at a time. She loved reading, learning, going to garage sales, old bookstores, antique shops, and traveling. Gale was an animal lover and had many pets over the years. She loved parakeets, goldfish and particularly pure-bred dogs, such as German shepherds, chinchilla Persian cats, and especially Siamese cats. Her daughter, Katharine shared her great love for her most recent chocolate seal-point Siamese, Willie. He died at the age of 19 only a few weeks before Gale passed away. Gale relocated many times throughout her life, having lived in Santa Rosa, CA, Charlottesville, VA, Omaha, NE, and eventually returned to Central New York in 1982. She was a very talented artist and took many courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha pursuing a degree in Commercial Art, and later at Utica College where she graduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in teaching fine art and human studies. She was a K-6 Art instructor at St. Peter's Catholic School in North Utica from 1992-1993. She worked later as a substitute teacher at South Lewis and Adirondack Central Schools. Gale held many other roles throughout her life. But her most cherished were being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her three children (of the late Donald Earle Vail), Katharine Jean Vail (Talarico) of Fort Plain, NY, Jane Elizabeth Vail of Whitesboro, NY and Daniel Travis Vail of Washington D.C.; Katharine's husband, James Lamont Talarico; Jane's partner, Brett LaSalle, and Daniel's wife, Amber Bell Vail. She is also survived by her three granddaughters, Marissa Lauren Burchell of Fort Plain, NY, Samantha Jane Burchell of Ilion, NY (children of Katharine and the late Bryan Herbert Burchell); Jane's daughter, Caryn Schweinsberg-Cooper and Caryn's husband, Nicholas Cooper of Whitesboro, NY, and Caryn's father, Todd Michael Schweinsberg of Marcy, NY; Marissa's partner, Dev Talbot, and Samantha's fiancé, Thomas Foster. She is also survived by her five great granddaughters, Savannah Hope Ribbot, (her father, Zachary Ribbot), Rowyn Audrin Ribbot, Delaney Grace Ribbot (Rowyn and Delaney's father, Nicholas Ribbot); And Thomas Foster's daughters, Avery Jane Foster, and Riley Saige Foster. She is also survived by James Sunday and Andrew Sunday, (both sons of the late Donald Thomas Sunday, who was Gale's nephew), as well as their children and families. She was predeceased by her late husband, Stanley R. Murphy, of Rome. McGrath, Myslinski, Kowalczyk, & Nunn Funeral Directors at 470 French Rd., Utica, NY, 13502 Phone (315) 797-1900 will be handling Gale's final preparation requests. There will be no viewing or calling hours for Gale. Her family will hold a private ceremony in the fall of 2025 in the mountains near Plattsburgh, NY where Gale enjoyed hiking and picking blueberries as a child. If anyone wishes to donate on behalf of Gale, her family is requesting that donations be sent to the Anita's Stevens Swan Humane Society at 5664 Horatio St., Utica, NY 13502. We, her family, sincerely thank you for your love and prayers! To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Gale, please visit our Tree Store.