As Mother's Day draws near, the Fulton Sun is shining a light on the heroes who don't wear capes. Our heroes are the women in our lives who make it worth living. Every day leading up to Mother's Day, the Sun will feature a story of a Callaway woman who embodies the indomitable spirit and uncompromising compassion for which this county is known.
Pat O'Rourke remembers her mother, Mabel Murphy, having endless compassion.
"She was a gentle, kind, sweet and loving person," O'Rourke said. "She shared that love with so many people. She was never so busy as to not give you some of her time."
Mabel was born March 6, 1907, in Ashland. The eldest of five children, Mabel graduated from New Bloomfield High School. At 20, she married William Murphy, who would one day serve as the mayor of Fulton. By then, Mabel had started quilting, a passion that would continue her entire life and earn her worldwide recognition.
"By the time she was married, she had seven quilts," she said. "She had quilting groups on Thursdays and Fridays, and one of those groups is still going."
Not only was Mabel known for her quilting in Callaway, but after an article in National Geographic, O'Rourke said her influence spread across the world.
"In 1994, I got a letter from the U.S. Embassy in Russia," she said. "The letter had been written in 1992, but was misplaced. A Russian teacher of English had seen an article about master folk artists that featured her."
O'Rourke said the letter included words of high praise from the teacher, and she is still in contact with her and her family to this day.
"She said, 'I admire your blankets,'" O'Rourke said. "'I think it shows you put your soul into your work.' My mother said, 'Oh, that's nice,' when I read the letter to her. But it's true; everything my mother did, she put her soul in to."
O'Rourke said her mother was always busy.
"My mother never worked, and honestly, she never really would have had the time," she said. "She was deeply involved in the community; in Cub scouts, Sunday school and a magazine. She was an avid gardener. She contributed to George (H.W.) Bush's Points of Light quilt, which hangs in his presidential library. But, she didn't make much out of it. She did all with no fanfare. She was humble."
To this day, memories of her mother are just as sweet as the times they spent together.
"We had fun and we laughed a lot," she said. "I remember walking in the woods, picking blackberries with her and my sister. She taught us to can. She was very kind and open. Many people wanted to spend time with her, and she always made time for them. She was gentle, kind woman who graciously opened her home."
While many people's accomplishments might be embellished or their flaws minimized, at the end of their lives, O'Rourke said her mother was everything people said and more.
"Her obituary was just as good as the life she actually led," she said. "She was a lovely mother, one her children could rise up and call her blessed.
Mabel Murphy died May 31, 2002, at 95. She was the mother of three children, and Den mother to countless Cub scouts. She was never without her hat.
If you know a Callaway mother who deserves to have their story told, contact Connor Pearson at [email protected] or by calling 573-826-2417.