Marilyn Murphy Hartman

Marilyn Murphy Hartman died on April 4, 2023 in Cedar Park, TX at the age of 86 and is walking hand in hand with Jesus on streets of gold singing her favorite Fanny J. Crosby hymns; Blessed Assurance and Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.

Marilyn was born in Osyka, Mississippi on March 16, 1937, the only daughter of Alton L. Murphy, chemist and Ellen Lilly Murphy, RN.

Marilyn, a petite breath-takingly beautiful Irish fiery redhead, grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Lakeview Baptist Church in New Orleans as a child and was “Baptized” in a mud puddle by her brother, Gareth, after Sunday services.

Marilyn was pre-deceased by her brother Gareth, her first husband Grady Smith, and her niece Kathleen Porter.

Marilyn and her second husband, Sterling Hartman, met at the Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans and were married January 3, 1981 at Lakeview Baptist Church in New Orleans. Marilyn was a chemical technician at SRRC and is a co-holder of a patent for no-press cotton fabrics.

The newlyweds moved to the US Navy’s Western Primary Standards Lab at Pomona, California.

Marilyn was an engineering student at Cal Poly University in Pomona, California and had transferred her credits from the University of New Orleans. Marilyn worked a 40-hour technical job while attending Cal Poly and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly, Pomona, California at the age of 49. She was the only woman mechanical engineer in her class.

When Head Quarters Navy Officials realized Marilyn’s potential, she was transferred to the US Navy’s Primary Standards Lab at the US Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. and was the Labs Technical Director.

She also attended USDA Graduate School and completed the LAN Administrator Program which included the following training: 1. Local Area Network Concepts 2. Local Area Network Operating System Novell Netware 3. Local Area Network Administrator and User Planning 4. Local Area Network Hardware and Troubleshooting 5. Local Area Network Bridges. Routers, and Gateways.

Because of her expertise as a Computer Local Area Network Administrator, she also served as a consultant to the Commanding Officer of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station Hospital to get the Pax River Hospital’s Computer Local Area Network Operational.

She was a member of the Navy Golf League in DC and humbled many men with her skill with irons.

Her highest commendation was from the Secretary of the Navy, John H Dalton, for over 42 years of service to the US Navy and US Government.

Marilyn and Sterling taught two and three-year old children about Jesus at Hughesville Baptist church in Hughesville Maryland for 11 years. She taught her beloved Sunday school children even after her severe stroke on July 9, 1999, which was caused by cigarette smoking according to the head of Neurology at Johns Hopkin’s University. The stroke left her paralyzed on the right side and unable to speak. She had a positive attitude, and a radiant beautiful smile, even in the toughest of circumstances, that brightened every stage performance she was in.

She was active in community theater with Port Tobacco Players in LaPlata, Maryland and was in many classic Broadway musicals. With her photographic memory and IQ of 160 she could read the complete script one time and then help everyone in the cast memorize their lines.

She was a Zephrette, a car hostess on a Norfolk and Western Vista Dome car, pulled by Norfolk and Westerns J Class Streamlined 4-8-4 steam locomotive 611 for the National Railway Historical Society. She didn’t share any of her tips with her husband.

She attempted to climb Mount Teewinot @ 12,336 ft, in the Teton Range of Wyoming, but being raised below sea level, soon found she did not have the necessary lung capacity.

She kissed the Blarney Stone in Blarney Castle County Cork, Ireland where she had a pint and visited with Murphy relatives who owned a Pub. According to her Irish relatives, there are no Murphy lawyers in Ireland because the Murphy’s could never pass the bar.

She and Sterling visited all 50 of the United States and tent camped at many National Parks.

Marilyn and Sterling reaffirmed their wedding vows on their 25th wedding anniversary at historic Wai’oli Hui’ia Church in Hanalei on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kauai.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Sterling Hartman, of Cedar Park, Texas who was her caregiver for 23 years and 9 months. Additional survivors include her son Terry Smith and daughter-in- law Francis Smith of Slidell, Louisiana and son Darrell Smith and daughter-in-law Caroline Smith of Winston- Salem, North Carolina, and by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Patti Hartman of Rowlett, Texas.

Her grandchildren include Samuel Smith, Stephanie Aucoin, RN and Shelley Blanda, RN . and Taylor Revetta, Ashley Adams, and Kailyn Smith.

Great Grandchildren include Rhiannon Aucoin, Nolan Aucoin, Wesleigh Aucoin, Bowen Aucoin, Kiera Voisey, Cillian Blanda, Jack Blanda, Bruce Blanda, Grayson Blanda, Scarlett and Rosalie Revetta, & Callahan Adams.

Five-star appreciation goes to Dr Cameron King and staff at Cedar Park Pediatric and Family Medicine, Dr Phillip M Woodall & staff at Round Rock’s Ministering Physicians, Resolutions Hospice and nurse Kenya , and finally to the management and staff of the Pointe Assisted Living Facility at Cedar Park for their loving and professional care for Marilyn during her last year’s down here.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 815 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77550 or to your favorite charity.

A celebration of her life will be at the Cedar Park First United Methodist Church, 600 West Park Street on Saturday morning April 29 from 930-1130. The service will include readings from the gospels and her favorite songs: Gospel, Hawaiian, Broadway, etc. For details 512-335-9540 or http://www.cpfumc.org

Interment will be at the Osyka Mississippi cemetery at the family plot.