Obituary of Stella JoAnn Murphy

Joann Murphy was born 1953 in Amarillo, Texas to Lucille and Doyle Spain. At 9 years old, the Spain family moved to San Lorenzo, California. After graduating from Arroyo High School, Joann married and soon had two children, Tracy Niemela and Tony Murphy. After raising her children in the Bay Area, she moved to Chico to slow down and started a pig farm. Eventually she moved up to Paradise to be closer to her grandchildren and after the Camp Fire, she lived in Durham.

She loved people and enjoyed jobs where she got to be around them, such as being a lunch lady in Concord, owning an antique store called Stelladoras in Hayward, and working at the Halloween Store. Always down for a good laugh and a fun time, Joann was pulled into lots of family practical jokes and brought so much joy to those involved. Believing in the dessert first way of life, Joann would often times show up for lunch with only a piece of cake. Her favorite place to donate money was the slot machines at Feather Falls casino and she enjoyed getting to know the workers and regulars there.

She adored her parents, especially her dad. She loved animals and always had a dog under foot. Family was the most important thing to Joann and would open up her house to all who needed it. Joann was a breast cancer survivor, but lived with COPD for many years before succumbing at home with her family by her side.

Joann was a loving mom, grandmother, sister, aunt, and cousin. She is preceded in death by her parents as well as her brothers John and Doyle Jr. She is survived by her daughter Tracy Niemela (Karl), son Tony Murphy (Annie), grandchildren Bobbie, Levi, Caden, and Wayne III, brother Ron Spain (Karen), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.