Georgia Ann Murfin-Bluebaum was born Aug. 17, 1943, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Mo., to George Elmer Murfin and Gladys Holaday-Murfin. She passed away at 2:30 a.m. Jan. 12, 2016, in Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., at the age of 72 years, 4 months and 26 days after multiple prolonged and lingering illnesses.
Being an only child, Georgia was provided the opportunity to travel the United States when her parents attended national and state conventions of the Lion’s Club, Shrine, and the Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. Other activities during her youth were dance lessons with their accompanying recitals, candy stripe nursing volunteer at the newly established Texas County Memorial Hospital and youth activities at the First Baptist Church of Houston, where she was a member. In Girl Scouts, she learned how to pitch a tent in driving wind and loose sandy soil, while on a Colorado mountain during a Jamboree.
Family connections were strong while growing up. There were many fond memories of Sunday afternoon gatherings when she and her older cousins socialized, while the boys crowded around the car radio to follow the details of St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.
Georgia attended elementary and high school in the Houston R-I system, where she was involved in band and orchestra, playing flute. An excellent seamstress, she won numerous awards on her clothing projects. She was an excellent math student who was always competitive for “first chair” in high school math in the class of 1961.
Her strong work ethic was nurtured by her parents at an early age. She often attended work with her mother, Gladys, at the Division of Family Services. After school she was assigned accounting work by her father at OK Tire Store until the family went home at closing time.
After high school graduation, she earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics from Drury College in Springfield, Mo., class of 1965. Continuing her studies at the University of Missouri in Columbia, she earned a master’s degree in textiles and clothing in 1966.
Following university studies, she returned to Houston R-I Schools to teach junior high home economics, middle school family living and high school vocational home economics classes, retiring in 2001. More than one generation of students has completed aprons, pillows, clothing and cooking projects under her guidance. She performed accounting for the family business, OK Tire, until her death.
Georgia met Edward L. Bluebaum when he came to Houston R-I Schools as band director in 1970, and they were united in marriage on June 1, 1971. To the union, a daughter, Kira E. Bluebaum was born.
Her greatest goal in life was to have a happy family and raise her children. She was diagnosed with terminal lymphoma cancer in 1990, but was aggressively treated and survived the first battle. She lived to see her five-year-old grow into a successful caring mother who was reared in the image of her grandmother. A close, caring mother-daughter relationship was successfully passed from grandmother, to mother, to daughter.
Immediate survivors include her husband, Edward Bluebaum of the home; daughter, Kira Bluebaum-Wylam and husband, Justin, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; granddaughter, Anna Wylam, and grandson, Joseph Wylam, also of Lee’s Summit; and daughter, Susan Dixson and granddaughters Bayleigh and Kaitlynn.
Preceding Georgia Ann in death were: Charles Edward and Margaret Cloninger-Murfin, paternal grandparents; Adolph Holaday and Lydia Holaday, maternal grandparents; and George Elmer Murfin and Gladys Holaday-Murfin, parents.
Other close relatives include paternal uncle, Clarence Edwin Murfin and aunt, Eula Smith-Murfin (deceased) of Mill Valley, Calif.; his children (cousins) Theda Murfin-Stoops of Ozark, Mo., Margaret Murfin-Wilson of Petaluma, Calif., and Evelyn Murfin-Genne of Turlock, Calif.
Uncle Charles “Charley” and Idola Murfin (both deceased) and cousins Charles “Chuck” Murfin Jr. of Ozark, Mo., Frances Murfin-Campbell of California and Sharla Kay Murfin-Stoops (deceased).
Aunt Ruth Murfin-Roberts and husband Jim (both deceased) and their children (cousins) George Roberts of Branson, Mo.; Jim “Shorty” Roberts of Ozark, Mo.; Bill Chloe Roberts of Los Angeles, Calif.; Dean Roberts of Springfield, Mo.; Bob Roberts of Springfield, Mo.; Juanita Roberts-Crawford of Summersville, Mo.; Donna Roberts-Zwiener of Huntsville, Alab.; Brenda Roberts-Collins of West Plains, Mo.; and Linda Roberts-Gould, West Plains, Mo.
Aunt Marie Michel (deceased) and cousins Sharon Maxine Michel-Vaughn of Summersville, Mo., and Shirley Hanmore of Summersville, MO.
Aunt Anna Murfin-Roberts and uncle Floyd Roberts, and their son, cousin Gene Roberts (all deceased).
Maternal uncle George Holaday and aunt Bernice Mitchell-Holaday (both deceased) and cousins Linda Holaday-Wolford (deceased), Gary Holaday of Success, Mo.; and Debra Holaday of Rolla, Mo.
Maternal uncle Adolf Holaday (deceased) and Aunt Lottie Carter-Holaday of Texas, and cousins Mary Holaday-Davis (deceased); Virginia Gay Holaday of Texas; Robert Holaday of New Mexico; and Joy Holaday-Ryan of Colorado Springs, Colo.
She will be missed by all.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Houston United Methodist Church with the Rev. Terry Lippstreu and the Rev. Bill Rice officiating. Burial was in Pine Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Justin Wylam, Bob Roberts, George Shaver, Michael Vaughn, Gary Holaday and Jim Roberts.
Memorials may be made to United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com.
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