01/23/2026
Mary Ellen departed this world on Monday, December 29, 2025, after battling a series of compounding illness. Even though her life was cut short, nothing can dim the light she shined to those whose path she crossed.
Born in Terre Haute, In., she was immediately adopted by Carl and Louise Harper. Carl was a
career Marine and that meant uprooting and traveling around the Southern U.S. Moving closer to family in Atlanta and later the suburb of Cedartown, Ga., before settling in The Scenic City of Chattanooga. Mary Ellen attended McBrien Elementary, East Ridge Middle and High School, where she graduated in the top of her class and went on to UTC on a full Chancellors Scholarship to receive her Masters Degree in Education and Leadership. Mary Ellen moved to Nashville and worked with the Governor’s Office and the Tennessee Legislation before returning home to teach. Mary Ellen was raised in the Baptist Church and later moved her membership to First Centenary United Methodist, where she was a founding member of the Oak Street Playhouse and made many lasting friendships. A little known fact was Mary Ellen was a very accomplished pianist, playing for pure enjoyment and rarely playing publicly. Mary Ellen went on to a full career at the USPS, where she was the Human Resources Officer hiring hundreds of postal employees and finally taking a position as the Postmaster of Monteagle and surrounding posts before retiring .She was a longtime volunteer of the March of Dimes, Chairman of the CFC, and gave of her time to many individuals and other charities. Mary Ellen was the smartest person I have ever known. She was beautiful and charming and extremely charismatic. Her blue eyes sparkled like a pool filled with southern charm and a fleck of hell fire. Mary Ellen never met a stranger and tried to treat others with respect and kindness.
She was the life of any party she attended. With a quick wit and a gentle kindness that could sell dirt, or tell you to go to the devil and you somehow felt good about it. If you knew her then you have felt the warmth of the sunshine she radiated, and if you didn’t you have missed out. I love you MEM as you loved me. Like no other. We always said, We have had the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows, not much middle ground. Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Louise Harper , two of the finest people I have ever known and her In-laws Bill and Hazel Murphy, whom we have missed dearly.
She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Todd Murphy and their kiddles Rudy, Mr.Peabody and King Linus. Her family: Mary Murphy Tabb, Bill Murphy (Jan), and Nan Murphy; Eric Lundgren (Shely). Nieces and Nephews: Leah Tabb Henderson (Kevin), Jeffrey Tabb, Adam Murphy (Tiffany),
Scott Murphy (Esther), Ben Murphy (Elizabeth), and Greats: Harlan, Brooke, Pierce, Hallie, and Max and many cousins.
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 31, st at First Centenary UMC on McCallie Avenue in the Kate Lyle West Chapel visitation at 1pm with the service following at 2 p.m. I
hope that if Mary Ellen ever touched your life you will attend. A private burial internment will happen at a later date next to her Mother, in Rose Hill Cemetery, Austell, Ga. Send flowers if you like, she loved flowers. But she loved her dogs more and a local donation to A Paw and A Prayer Dog Rescue, in her honor would be amazing
