Longtime Cashmere resident Blanche I. Murphey, 77, died Thursday morning, Jan. 31, 1991, at the Cashmere Convalescent Center.

She was born Nov. 28, 1913, in Farnam, Neb., to Oscar and Edith (Kishmer) Gewecke. She attended Farnam schools.

She married Roland L. Murphey on March 15, 1931 in Norton, Kan. They first lived in Nebraska before moving to Oregon and later to Washington and California. They came to Cashmere in 1945.

Mrs. Murphey worked locally in the seasonal fruit industry and later for many years at the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

She was member of the Cashmere United Methodist Church.

Survivors include her husband, at home; two daughters, Mrs. Gordon (Ruth) Geyer and Mrs. Les (Sandra K.) Barnett of Cashmere; two brothers, Glenn Gewecke of Long Beach, Calif., and Ron Gewecke of La Grande, Ore.; three sisters, Ruby Gray of Anaheim, Calif., Ethel Harlow of Long Beach and Georgena Rand of Milton-Freewater, Ore.; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Family graveside services were Feb. 4 in the Cashmere Cemetery. The Rev. Glenn Kennedy officiated. Arrangements were by the Braun Funeral Home of Cashmere.

Memorials in Mrs. Murphey’s name can be made to the Alzheimers Research Foundation, in care of the Braun Funeral Home.

Cashmere Valley Record 85(5):8 Wednesday, February 6, 1991