Doris Wood Murphy
The only child of James and Gladys Ghormley Wood, Doris was born in Wagon Mound New Mexico on March 4, 1924. Doris left this earth on April 15, 2015 after 91 wonderful years.
During the depression years Arnold Bahns, owner of Bahns Jewelry Store in Ventura and brother-in-law to Doris’ father Jim Wood, encouraged Jim to come to California with his family in 1932 to learn the watch-making trade and jewelry business. The Goodyear Jewelry store in Santa Paula was for sale so they bought it and became downtown merchants. The building, in the west half of the old Mupu Grill on Main Street, was occupied by Mark Stairs Radio Shop in the back of the building and Payton Chamberlain and Woods’ Jewelers occupied the front of the store. This is where Doris was raised...on Main Street.
Doris attended grade school, Isbell Junior High School and Santa Paula Union High School. She was on the El Solano Staff, President of Sportswomen, a Glee Club member, and Girls Athletic Association member and was in two high school plays. She also pursued piano and vocal studies as a teen and made several studio recordings as gifts to her parents.
Following graduation Doris went to the College of the Pacific in Stockton and then to UCLA. She eventually transferred to Wright-McMahan Secretarial School in Beverly Hills. In addition to secretarial training it was a finishing school and this appealed to Doris.
Doris worked for KHJ radio station in Hollywood for a time during WWII and in 1945 moved back to Santa Paula. She got a job at Port Hueneme Naval Base as a secretary. The Rotary and Lion’s Club convinced her to run for the title of “Miss War Bond of 1945”. She didn’t win the title...but had fun in the Hollywood competition sharing her beautiful vocal and performance talents.
Doris and her Santa Paula girlfriends attended a USO dance in Oxnard one evening after work. She spotted a handsome fellow who was very shy. After the dance the girls went to The Colonial House in Oxnard...one of the nicest eateries in the county, and sitting at the end of the bar was that handsome man - Frank M. “Bud” Murphy Jr. He introduced himself to Doris and invited her to dinner the next night. This was the beginning of a whirlwind romance that lasted for 45 years until his death in 1991.
After Bud’s discharge from the Navy and marriage to Doris, her family convinced him to try the jewelry business. In this he was quite successful and together they owned Wood Jewelers until 1990....a run on Main Street of 58 years.
Doris was active in the Santa Paula Presbyterian Church Choir, where she served as a Deacon and Church Elder, was a hand bell choir ringer for 7 years and directed the children’s choir when her own children were young.
Doris helped establish Santa Paula’s Downtown Revitalization Program and was chairman of that committee for 2 years. She was on the Board of Directors for the Santa Paula Historical Society and served as chairman of the “Oral History Committee” recording many local Santa Paulans’ interesting stories about their lives and her beloved town. She was also on the Board of Directors for the Santa Paula Union High School Alumni Association and helped organize several reunions. She was honored as the Santa Paula Soroptimist Club 1997 “Women of Distinction” award which was a great honor for her. Doris also volunteered as an ESL (English as a second language) tutor at the library for several years. She was an avid bridge player, gardener and flower arranger. Doris loved animals and raised and trained several dogs, had aviaries full of birds, and tolerated her childrens’ collections of squirrels, snakes, tarantulas, pigeons, pet ducks and wild baby birds.
Doris is survived by son, James M. Murphy and his wife Diana of San Diego, CA, their children Shana Murphy of Portland, OR and Patrick Murphy of San Diego, her daughter Pamela K. Murphy of Santa Paula and her children, Elizabeth Murphy Barat and husband Dana Barat, Grant Murphy Brostrom and his wife Stacy, and four great grandchildren - Addison and Isla Barat and twins Franklin and Catherine Brostrom, all of Santa Barbara, CA.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your local Alzheimer’s Association.
