CHRIS' EARLY YEARS
Margaret Christine was born on July 12, 1929, to John L. Dunn and Irene Miller in Cushing, OK. The eldest of 4 daughters she grew up in Tulsa where she attended St. Francis Schools and Marquette High School. She was Prefect of St. Francis Sodality and one of 43 seniors to graduate in 1947. She and her sisters loved to babysit and their most memorable client was young John Henry Deutschendorf, who later became John Denver. She enjoyed going ice skating and the movies with her family. Chris had fond memories of her high school days and was very active with school trips and social activities. Her first job after high school was a receptionist at KAKC radio station.
EARLY ADULT LIFE
While in high school Chris met the love of her life at a swimming party in Cushing. That same evening she excitedly told her mother that she had met the man she was going to marry. And she did! On May 28, 1949, shortly after he was discharged from the Army, she married James Richard Darnaby. They resided in Tulsa for most of their married life raising two daughters, Connie and Christy and three sons, Rick, John and Jeff. While Jim was building his business during the 1960's, the family spent 4 years in Dallas and 3 years in Midland, Texas, returning to Tulsa in 1966. They purchased a large farm and cattle ranch in Leonard, OK, where they lived until Jim passed away on April 21, 1979.
ADULT LIFE
She later married Robert Paul Murphy increasing her family by four daughters, Beth, Jane, Ann and Kaye and one son, Rob. Their combined families of 10 children would eventually grow to 31 grandchildren and 23+ great grandchildren. She loved keeping in touch with her Oklahoma and Texas roots often hosting family and friend's dinner parties. Living on the farm for over 30+ years she was actively involved in raising feed cattle, managing and harvesting the pecan grove, fruit trees and vegetable gardens. Bob passed away on February 6, 2016.
CHRIS' ACTIVITES
Chris liked to cook and was always trying a new recipe she found in her monthly magazines or local newspaper. She learned to oil paint on canvas and her walls were covered in her creations. She faithfully watched The Lawrence Welch show every Saturday evening dancing and singing around the living room in unison. She was a Friday night season ticket holder for decades at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center enjoying numerous plays and musicals. She was intrigued with home decorating and often times would completely remodel various rooms in her home. A self-taught carpenter and wood worker her skills could rival a pro. She enjoyed traveling and visited many countries in 5 continents where she loved meeting new people and immersing herself in their culture. She was a long standing member of the "Morning Dew" home extension group and leading member of her high school reunion committee. She enjoyed her monthly bridge luncheons and in her early years she enjoyed snow skiing. Her most enjoyable hobby was sewing and creating handcrafted gifts for family and friends. Throughout the years she designed, sewed and tailored thousands of dance costumes, cheerleading, band and school uniforms, attendant and prom dresses, etc. She designed her daughters wedding gowns and accessories as well as the bridesmaid's dresses and servers aprons. Chris made her own clothes often receiving compliments from complete strangers with requests to buy her clothes. She later became intrigued with machine embroidery and her home was filled with her achievements.
CHRIS' PASSIONS
Chris had many hobbies and activities. However, she had two passions that meant the world to her - family and religion.
Nothing excited Chris more than being with her family. The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were the primary focus of her later years. She nurtured her children and blessed them with guidance, confidence and trust. She was always available, never showing anger and always radiated a sense of security and love. She loved to stay up late at night talking with her children about their lives, a tradition that she continued with her grandchildren. She was affectionately known as Nana by her grandchildren and enjoyed teaching them to swim, sew and cook. She will always be remembered for her famous homemade "Nana bread" and cinnamon rolls.
Chris was a devout and engaged Catholic attending mass every holy day even when out of the country. She was a parishioner of Madeline, St. Peter and Paul, St. Pius and St. Clements for over 40 years where she was a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. In response to the Vatican's habit modification in the early 1960's she generously volunteered to designed, sew and tailored clothing for the nuns in Dallas. Her kids still tell stories of coming home after school to a house of half-dressed nuns trying on their new and chic dresses. Chris also became well known for altering and hemming the local priests' clothes. She volunteered to design and tailored vestments for the parish priests at St. Clements including creating altar cloth's and flower arrangements which are still used today. She and Bob sponsored many seminarians over the years.
Mom was a remarkable woman, who made her family stronger, better and very proud. She set a wonderful example for all. She will be missed and forever loved, cherished, and remembered.
She is survived by Connie Strimple, husband Mark of Moore, OK; Rick Darnaby, wife Marilyn of Bixby, OK; John Darnaby, wife Ann, of Broken Arrow, OK; Jeff Darnaby, wife Clesta, of OK and Christy Sparks, husband Sheldon, of Tulsa, OK. Sisters, Catherine Adams of Harrah, Ok and Carol Stockwell, husband Dick of Gerald, MO., 31 grandchildren and 23+ great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands James R. Darnaby and Robert P. Murphy and sister Mary Barrick.

Rosary: 6:30 PM Sunday, July 28, 2019 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel.
Funeral Mass: 9:00 AM Monday, July 29, 2019 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Broken Arrow.
Interment: Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa.