Patricia (Murphy) Ferbrache passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, in her own home, just as she always wished. Arrangements had been made for her to move into an adult family home the next day, but her desire to live in her own home was embedded in her DNA. She was proud of being the last Murphy descendant living on the original homestead of her grandparents Patrick and Mary (Donovan) Murphy who settled in the Satsop River Valley in the spring of 1888.
Mary Patricia Murphy was born March 15, 1926, in Aberdeen, the only child of Daniel and Josephine (Ryan) Murphy. At a young age, she and her parents moved into the Brady home she resided in the rest of her life.
Patricia graduated from Montesano High School in 1944. She married George Charles Ferbrache, a handsome Coast Guard sailor from Colorado who was stationed in Aberdeen, on Feb. 14, 1948, in Elma.
After 45 years of marriage, George died on Aug. 21, 1993.
After many years of farming and being a homemaker, the strong-willed Patricia parted with the traditional housewife role and went to work at Harrison Dental Lab in Aberdeen, where she eventually retired. She learned to “make teeth” and enjoyed the camaraderie among the dentists and their assistants.
Patricia loved to travel, especially cruises – anywhere, anytime. Her last cruise, with daughters Roxanne and Kim, celebrated her 90th birthday, where she was the “belle of the ball” among all the passengers and crew. She loved all animals, except horses (which her daughters loved). She was enormously proud of her yard, especially her collection of Japanese maples and rhododendrons. She was also a talented seamstress, making many of her young children’s clothes.
Over the years, Patricia was a member of the St. John’s Altar Society, Grays Harbor Dairy Women, March of Dimes, Mothers’ Club and the Olympic View Grange. She particularly enjoyed serving ice cream at the Grays Harbor County Fair with the Dairy Women. She was also a longtime patron of the Driftwood Players.
Patricia is survived by four children: Roxanne (Gary) Lowe of McCleary; Daniel (Teresa) Ferbrache of Hoquiam; Thomas (Debra) Ferbrache of Mableton, Ga.; and Kimberly (Scott) Whitehouse of Knoxville, Tenn. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Christopher, Jennifer, Shawn, Ashley, Ava and Max and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Patricia will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Montesano. The Rosary will be offered at 10 a.m. with a Catholic mass at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the parish hall.
Although she loved flowers, Patricia would rather have remembrances sent to the Brady Fire Department who were always at her beck and call whenever she needed them.
To share online memories or express condolences, please visit www.harrisonfamilymortuary.com.
