Kathryn Janine Murphy, age 75, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away suddenly in the early hours of August 20. Jan was born on February 3, 1951, in San Antonio, Texas. She met her husband, Jim, on a blind date when she was 18 years old. Jim and Jan married in 1969 and decided to start a family.

As a mother to Jimmy, Jana, and Jill, she was generous, loving, and meticulous. Jan took care of her husband and children almost to the point of spoiling them. She attended to her family's daily needs down to the smallest detail. Jan became a "Nanny" in 1995 with the birth of her beloved Cole Murphy. Then along came her second grandchild in 2003, Jaby Murphy Tarkington. Finally, her third grandchild and namesake, Stella Janine Taylor, was born in 2012. She loved to support her grandchildren and was a constant figure at school events and extracurricular activities.

Jan and Jim have been faithful members of First Baptist Church Pasadena for more than 40 years. Janine loved to attend both Sunday School and church weekly. She enjoyed reading devotionals and other Christian publications in her spare time. She was a faithful prayer warrior, adding names to her prayer list often.

Jan maintained close female friendships throughout her life. Many of her friends became like family because of the amount of time she spent with them. Her closest friends knew they could depend on her for help in any type of situation.

That Jan loved animals is an understatement. She cared for her many rescued dogs and cats like children. She grieved their deaths like family members. We can only imagine her joy when reuniting with her fur babies in Heaven.

Janine was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Fear and Bernice Wentzel, her brother, Ronnie Fear, and her son, James Melvin Murphy IV.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; her daughters, Jana and Jill; her son-in-laws, Jay and Mike; her daughter-in-laws, Kimberly and Wendy; and her grandchildren, Cole, Jaby, and Stella.

Her current fur babies, Butler, ZuZu, and KK are feeling lost without their "mommy" as well.

Kathryn's life will be celebrated Friday, August 28, at First Baptist Church Pasadena at 10:00am., with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale.