Our cherished Joslyn passed away Friday, July 24th after suffering a stroke. Her husband, Jack Walsh, and daughters, Amy Hanson and Emily Jense, were by her side.
Joslyn was born in 1952, raised in Four Buttes, MT, and graduated from Scobey High School. She married John Murphy of Scobey and their daughters were born in 1970 and 1974. The family moved to Yakima, Washington in 1975 where they lived for ten years. After returning to Montana, Joslyn had a brilliant career in sales and marketing.
Joslyn married Jack Walsh in 2002, after a brief, 16-year courtship. She and Jack were proud parents and active community members. Their dog, “Jack the Dog,” provided much joy and companionship.
Joslyn was many things to many people, but most of all she was a mother. Her daughters were her best friends and her world revolved around them. They enjoyed doing anything and everything together, their favorite being regular trips to the Oregon coast.
Joslyn lived a passionate life and faced every day with strength and spunk. She kept her loved ones close and was a loyal friend. Her vibrant spirit, thoughtful nature, and love of laughter were perhaps her most remarkable traits.
Joslyn was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Marian Murphy.
Joslyn is survived by her husband, Jack Walsh of Helena, MT; daughters Amy (Hans) Hanson of Vergas, MN; and Emily (KK) Jense of Whitefish, MT; grandchildren Taylor Hanson and Hannah Hanson of Vergas, MN; sister Janice Norby of Fairview, MT; brother Gary (Mary) Murphy of Keatchie, LA; nieces Jill Norby and Kelli Norby of Billings, MT; nephews Marty Murphy and KC Murphy of Keatchie, LA; aunt and uncle Ken and Bev Murphy of Scobey, MT; several cousins; and her two hockey boys, Josh Brooks of Pheonix, AZ and Dane Dresch of Ann Arbor, MI.
Family and friends are invited to an open-house, memorial celebration on Thursday, July 30th, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Montana Club (24 West 6th Ave. Helena, MT). Please feel welcome to drop by, share your memories of Joslyn, and celebrate a life well-lived.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at St. Peter’s Hospital who cared for her with genuine compassion and sensitivity.
Memorial donations will support the Helena Paws Park, PO Box 287 Helena, MT 59624. Condolences can be sent to 431 Barney St. Helena, MT 59602.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday July 30, 2015
Montana Club
26 W. 6th Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday July 30, 2015
Montana Club
26 W. 6th Ave.
Helena, Montana 59601
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Laura Fix says
Shocked and saddened to hear this terrible news. Joslyn was a beautiful person, inside and out. My sincere condolences to Jack and all of her family. God’s speed Joslyn, you were the epitome of style and grace…….
Ken and Linda Cottrill says
Our sincere condolences and prayers are with you. Joslyn was a wonderful person and will be missed but lives on in our fond memories.
Gary & Joy Novota says
We are so very saddened to read of this shocking news of the loss of Joslyn. Any connections we had thru the years were always filled with her radiant smile & enthusiasm. We recall the laughter & stimulating conversations we had! Our prayers & thoughts of sympathy have been with Jack since we read the news. May the angels surround you to help you through a difficult journey while God’s loving arms are holding her tightly.
Allan Stricker says
Joslyn was a friend and an always gracious and giving person. She will be sorely missed by so many more than just Jack. Everyone needs to remember the great times with her.
Vicki Willert says
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Joslyn. I will miss her. We have been through much laughter and many tears together. My prayers are with her girls, her husband, and her dog. May God hold you all in the palm of His hands.
Raymond & Linda Read says
Joslyn will be missed and frankly it was just too early. She was a great work mate, friend and community supporter. Prayers to all who mourn her loss. May memories of her be strong!
Norm Buktenica says
While it is difficult to imagine the depth and extent of your feelings and sorrow resulting from the very premature and tragic end to Joslyn’s life, I join you in morning her death. Surely there is no replacing her spirited personality, compassion and caring, but perhaps the all too pleasant meaningful years with her will help temper your grieving and provide some comfort now and beyond. Fondly and good fortune to you,
Norm
Jill Hoffman says
Jack, Amy & Hans, and Emily & KK,
My sympathies are with you at this time.
The world is much brighter because she was with you and truly lead by example. Love, tolerance, empathy and always finding a way to get the job done is what I will remember of Joslyn!
Love, Jill
Shari Hunter Brownlee says
Sending heartfelt condolences to Jack and all the family. Joslyn was a spitfire and so much fun to be around- I will miss seeing her at all the Helena fundraisers and events, which is where we usually ran into each other. I loved her wit, sarcasm, and wacky sense of humor. She could always make me laugh! I’m still in shock that she’s gone and I will miss her very much. “See you on the other side, Jozzie!”
June and Dick Rychalski says
it is hard to accept the fact that Joslyn is gone! It brings closer the fact that we never know what tomorrow will bring. She was such a bright spot in everyone’s life. Our sympathy to Jack and the family. I feel I know her daughters from the wonderful stories she told us of the challenges they gave her when they were growing up. Joslyn will certainly be missed. We loved her! What an inspiration she was.
Trinda Smith says
Sending sincere sympathies to Jack and all those close to Joslyn; I will always remember her energy and her candor–she was a special gal and will be missed by all.
Maryann Seilstad says
Joslyn was a bright ray of sunshine. She was always so energetic and so positive. She will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to her family.
Deb Kralicek says
Joslyn was one of the most amazing people. She always had a great smile and so much energy. Met her years ago when she worked for the Better Business Bureau. She hired our daughter to work at the coffee shop and was such a great role model. Never a dull moment with her and Jack. She will surely be missed. We are all better for knowing her.
Our deepest sympathy to Jack, Amy & Emily.
Doug & Deb Kralicek
Holly Luck says
I only recently met Joslyn but i felt I knew her forever. She was like an old shoe — comfortable, easy and enjoyable. We shared brief coversation at the cancer center but it felt we were old friends. She was a joy to know, she made everyone at ease and feel ok with the disease.
We promised to share wine (whine) time as soon as possible. Bummer, I will miss that opportunity.
Thank you, sister.
Michele Abney says
My first memory of Joslyn was when she rode her pony to my grandparents farm one summer afternoon. She couldn’t have been much older than six. My grandparents lived just down the road from Joslyn and her family and she was very fond of my grandmother, Pearl Chicoine. Her pony left without her and headed home. It didn’t seem to bother her…..my grandmother gave her a ride home after a little neighborly visit.
Many years later we connected again in Helena. My mother, her dad’s cousin , invited me to lunch with Joslyn. What a delightful woman she had become. She reminded me a lot of her mother Marion and the Manley women…..very classy ladies.
My sincere condolences to you, her family. As so often happens, a great lady was lost much
too early.
Dru Rafkin says
Dear Emily,
I am so very sorry to hear about our mother’s passing. Sending hugs and love to you and yours.
Dru
Dru Rafkin says
Oh my gosh, Your mother’s passing (not ours)
Maureen LaChere says
Met Joslyn when she worked for Chicago Title. She would stop by the office at Landmark Co. and chat, smile, and just was a super delight to have around. Loved her personality, her positive perspective on just about anything and everything. She stopped by my office just a few months back to pick up a picture. It was like picking up where we left off. Lots of laughter, conversation, and she was so full of life and joy. She was like a wild fire that left a spark aglow and burning brightly where ever she went. Oh my I will surely miss her greatly. What a wonderful spirit. I will always remember her sparkling eyes that truly reflected that bright and shining soul of hers. How can this be possible? Prayers for all her loved ones.
JoAnne Sherwood says
I first met Joslyn through Montana Marketing when I needed assistance with the CHS Speech and Debate team sweatshirts. We became friends and enjoyed visiting over lunch. Joslyn was an engaging person with lots of energy and insight. Her laugh was infectious. Her glass “half-full” approach was inspiring. My condolences to her family. Her presence will be missed.
Maria Fieth says
Sending love and peace for you, Emily, and for your family.
Thinking of you,
Maria
Sharon Haugen says
I was saddened to hear of Joslyn’s passing. She was truly a woman of style and grace, and an infectious smile and sense of humor. God speed to her in her next adventure. My prayers and thoughts are with Jack, her daughters and all the family who I know she loved and cherish
Michael Ryan, ,,, says
I am in total shock, I just lost one of my best friends and never got to say good by, the good Lord will never make another Murphy, one of the most wonderful people in the whole country, we all are going to miss her very much
Joni Kaiser says
Joslyn was truly a remarkable woman, very passionate, caring and sincere. I will miss her smile and our conversations of “how awesome our dogs are”. My heart felt sympathy and prayers for the family, including Jack the Dog.
Candy Linder says
My cousin, my friend…..I miss you so much! Jos and I grew up together, like sisters, as we spent nearly every day together. With her mother being sick and in Seattle, she was at our home or me at her house lots.
We started the “Friendly Club” – sitting at Jos’s mailbox with lemonade asking for donations to a good cause. We gave the people that donated a stick of gum with “thank you” written on it. Our meeting room was in her hay loft. We planned to keep the money for ourselves-that was our “good cause” 🙂 Jos”s mom found about our scheme , after raising nearly $30, and we got a “talking too” about right and wrong. We were told we had to come up with a “good cause”.
We decided to buy toys and books for the Daniels Memorial hospital for sick kids to enjoy. Our $30 bought a huge box of fun stuff, thanks to the generosity of the local Scobey businesses.
Our neighbor Dorothy Rustebakke, came and took our picture and wrote a story for the Daniels County Leader, proclaiming our “good deed”. The story even hit the Billings Gazette!
The “schemers” became “celebrities” overnight! I could go on for pages…we were always up to something…leave two young girls alone in the country ….we were never bored!
I love you Jos!!! Thanks for the memories!
Holli Mikesell says
I am saddened to hear of Jaws passing. I met her while working for MMI, and continued to keep in contact, and worked with her when I moved on to a new job, as our doodad queen! I loved meeting her for lunch an laughing, or planning events for the non profit that I work for. She was an inspiration, and a driving force. I will miss her.