Wanda Gentry Murphy

Wanda Gentry Murphy of Ava, Missouri, was born at home in a small farmhouse, 8 miles west of Ava, Missouri, on January 23, 1944, to Colman and Ruth (Ross) Gentry. After a 3-year battle for survivorship with cancer, she took her last breath on September 2, 2026, her body fighting until the very end until finally succumbing to the disease after no further treatment options remained available. She passed away at home, encircled by the love of family and friends, at the age of 82 years, 7 months, and 10 days.

Wanda spent her entire life as an active member of the Ava community, participating in the Ava Saddle Club, the Lion’s Club, and the Missouri Fox Trotters Association over the years. She loved riding horses and participating in numerous trail rides over the years. She was baptized as a teenager and joined the First Southern Baptist Church of Ava when she was 20. She remained a devoted Christian and regular attendee at the church until the very end, and she taught Sunday School at the church for more than 35 years.

On June 7, 1974, she married her soul mate, Max Murphy, and spent over 52 years building a large family, a thriving business, and a 1700-acre cattle ranch located near Max’s childhood home around Almartha and Souder, Missouri. Together, they traveled the world, visiting 6 continents, all 50 US states at least twice, and multiple countries throughout the world. Three weeks before her death, Max, Wanda, and her sister, Glenda, explored the beauty of Mackinaw Island in upper Michigan, thrilled by every breathtaking moment. Max and Wanda regularly attended Missouri State basketball games for over 40 seasons.

Wanda was preceded in death by her daughter, Tracy, her son-in-law, Leslie Stillings, both her parents, her in-laws, Lyle and Faye Murphy, and her brother-in-law, Ronnie Johnson.

Her living legacy is proudly continued by her husband, Max, and her sister, Glenda Johnson, as well as her children, Carla Stillings, Rodney Sexton, and Jan (Brent) Fleischman. She was known as Grandma Max to Justin, Brandy, Lance, Jessica, Kyle, Rayna, Taylor, Dominic, Cole, D’arrica, Reagan, Kaelyn, Railey, Brody, Case, and Claire. In the last year, she was thrilled to hold in her arms, a great-great grandson, Ray, and the newest great, Krew.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 10:00 A.M. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, Missouri, with the Pastor Nolan Carrier and Pastor Rick Spacek officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service at 9:00 A.M. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Tracy Murphy Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the National Honor Society, to NHS members graduating from Ava High School.