Janet MacMurphey Obituary

Janet Marie MacMurphey

August 31, 1936 - June 24, 2025

Sacramento, California - Janet MacMurphey passed away peacefully on June 24th at her home surrounded by family. She was 88 years old. Janet was born on August 31, 1936 in Tooele, Utah to William and Mary Staines. She lived in Utah with her parents, her sister Marjorie, and her brother Bill, until the family moved to Sacramento in 1950. Janet attended Grant Union High School, graduating in 1954. During her sophomore year at Grant, Janet met her future husband, George MacMurphey. After graduation, the two married, started their family and Janet supported George while he attended pharmacy school at UOP in Stockton. The family moved back to Sacramento upon George's completion of pharmacy school in 1959 and purchased the home they shared for over 64 years. Janet was a dedicated homemaker and loving mother to Kathy, Mary and John. Janet and George bought their first pharmacy in 1965 and over the next three decades, Janet assisted George with all of the accounting and business aspects of the pharmacy. In her 30's, Janet returned to college and completed her degree in Accounting from CSUS in 1979. Following graduation, Janet worked as a part-time accountant for Goodwin-Cole until her retirement in 1992. A highlight for Janet after retirement was her volunteer work with Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) where she counseled business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Janet was an active member of Northminster Presbyterian Church for the last 50 years. She loved sewing, canning, cooking, growing African violets and especially traveling. Janet and George traveled throughout North America and Europe with favorite trips including Ireland, the Panama Canal cruise, Hawaii and the annual 4 generation summer vacation to Pacific Grove. Janet's true dedication and most cherished time was always with her family and friends. Janet loved to host all holidays and gatherings and carried on a Christmas Eve tradition for over 60 years.

Janet is survived by her husband, George MacMurphey; brother William Staines; three children: Kathy (Tim) Lumsden, Mary (Todd) Murch, and John MacMurphey. Grandchildren: Liz (Josh) Pilorin, Michael Lumsden (Ross Gaudet), Monica (Tyler) Bettencourt, Andrew Murch, Jordan MacMurphey (Paige Majors), and Brady MacMurphey (Ruby Hernandez). Great-grandchildren: Sophia, Ryan, Jack and Matthew Pilorin, and Landon and Collin Bettencourt.

A memorial service will be held on July 12, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church (3235 Pope Ave, Sacramento 95821). In lieu of flowers, donations in Janet's name may be made to the Kiwanis Family House (2875 50th Street, Sacramento 95817) or the Northminster Foundation Endowment Fund.