Woman Killed In Crash Honored At Saint Francis For Donating Organs

The family of a woman killed in a car crash is devastated by her loss, but also celebrates the fact that she's saving other lives through organ donation.

Cherie Murphy's husband, son and other loved ones were at Saint Francis as LifeShare raised a flag in her honor.

Friends and family of Cherie Murphy believe there's nothing greater than the gift of life and said she had a servant's heart until the very end.

"When you have a person that walks in and you go, 'oh hey, the days better, you know it is the days better,' and that's the type of person she was. The day is better. She's there. The day's better," said Chuck McKinney, Cherie's boss.

Cherie was 54 years old when she died from her injuries in a car crash.

"She was my work wife and we spent more waking hours with her in the last 24 and a half years than I probably did my wife," said McKinney. "She was a fighter, I mean she, you know, she never gave up. She could take on any task. Just happy. Just wanted to be part of the team."

"Cherie is a very loving and kind individual," said Glenn Coffey, Family Friend.

Many of her friends just found out this week Cherie was an organ donor.

"Just speaks of her character, her soul, her spirit because she's selfless. She wanted to give of that, and she'd signed up. And as I read more about it today, it said 'a donor hero.' Absolutely," said McKinney.

One of her friends received a transplant three years ago, so he knows Cherie's gift will change lives.

"For the people who will receive her gifts, her organs, it truly means the world to, and there's nothing that a recipient can say or do to completely show our gratitude," said Coffey.

Cherie Murphy and her son were in a crash last Thursday on Highway 117 in Sapulpa.

Her family is taking comfort in knowing her death will give others life.

"We know that 2 people right now are looking to be saved through the donation of her organs," said Christina Horkey, Family Service Coordinator with LifeShare of Oklahoma. "She is going to live on through someone else and hopefully be able to provide them with the same beautiful spirit that her family talked about this evening."

"That's just what she did. She was the helper," said McKinney. "It's with hope that we have and the hope that she's giving other people to live with her donation of organs, and that gets us through the day."

Cherie Murphy's funeral will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Sapulpa, which would have been her 33rd wedding anniversary.

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