Loie Margaret Mead

Loie Margaret Mead passed away in March 2026 at the age of 92. She was a loving mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend to many. Born on April 10, 1933, she attended Grant High School, where she was active in school life. In 1951, she proudly represented Grant as a Rose Festival Princess before graduating later that year.

Loie’s love of teaching began early. As a child, she delighted in playing “school” with her younger sister, Joan.

She attended the University of Oregon, where she prepared for her dream of becoming a teacher. After graduating in 1955, she married Edward Hal Murphy, and the couple traveled across the country as Ed completed medical school and residency training. Along the way, Loie supported the family by teaching high school English in several cities. Together, they raised three children.

Loie was a respected administrator at the University of Oregon’s Interfaith Campus Ministry Wesley Center for several years. She continued her teaching role there, working closely with international students and joining them in antiwar activism, including protesting the reinstatement of the draft.

In 1980, Loie became a faithful member of the Bahá’í Faith, embracing and sharing its message of universal peace. She helped establish the ROSES Project, a collaboration between the Portland Bahá’í community and local Hmong families, where she served as a lead teacher, providing after-school tutoring and mentoring for Hmong children. She especially valued the involvement of Hmong elders, encouraging them to share their storytelling and musical traditions with younger generations. Her home became a welcoming gathering place, with the basement stocked with games, children’s books, and art supplies, ready at any time for learning, creativity, and encouragement.

Loie was elected to the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Portland, the administrative and spiritual body of the local community, where she served as Secretary, a role she relished. When the work began to require more advanced computer skills, Loie suggested stepping aside so that someone with greater expertise might take the position. The Assembly valued her contributions so highly that they declined her resignation. Undeterred, she asked her son Mark, a software engineer, to help her choose a computer and teach her how to use it. Ever the student, she took meticulous notes and embraced the challenge with determination and good humor.

In 2007, Loie embarked on a long-anticipated nine-day spiritual pilgrimage to Haifa, Israel, where she joined others from the international community of Bahá’ís for prayer, meditation, and connection. It was a profoundly meaningful journey that she spoke of often.

Loie’s faith was the foundation of her life, shaping her words, her choices, and the compassion she unfailingly showed others. She lived a life of service and always sought to be a light in the world.

Her children will forever be grateful for the love, wisdom, and care she gave them. Growing up, they learned never to say, “I’m bored.” Loie would usher them outdoors, reminding them that boredom could not exist in such a magnificent world. She would have them lie in the grass and watch the clouds until inspiration came. They love her beyond measure and will carry her sense of wonder with them always.

Loie was a devoted daughter and sister who embodied quiet compassion and steadfast love. In her mother’s final years, she cared for her at home, offering comfort, dignity, and constant presence until the end.

A lifelong learner, Loie was deeply curious about the world and its cultures. She loved reading, painting, classical music, picnics, jigsaw puzzles, and visiting over a cup of tea. On “flower walks,” she would pause to name each bloom and marvel at its colors. Time with her grandchildren was especially precious; she taught them to sew, make puppets from wooden spoons, and once had them create elaborate hats from bits and bobs for a joyful “hat parade” in the backyard. She found wonder in nature and in all of God’s creation, and her joyful laughter brightened every gathering. She also drew strength and community from studying and praying with her Bahá’í friends.

Loie was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Marjorie Mead; her sister, Joan Shirley Wilde; and her former spouse, Edward Hal Murphy.

She is survived by her three children: Mark Murphy (Tia La Londe), Katie Wilson (Jay Wilson), and Kelli Taylor (Richard Taylor); six grandchildren, Ian, Emily, Eryn, Elyse, Madison, and Elijah; and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many beloved members of her extended family, including her nephews, David and Steven Wilde; her dear friend and former daughter-in-law, Lorraine Irino; her nephew David’s former spouse, Kristi, who remains a cherished part of the family and deeply treasured friends in her Bahá’í community.

Loie leaves behind a legacy of kindness, wonder, and faith that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to Gail Owens for her friendship and loving care, and to the team at Legacy Hospice for their support and compassion.

A burial service will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Rose City Cemetery, 5625 NE Fremont Street, Portland, Oregon.

Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service at 4:30 p.m. that afternoon at the Portland Bahá’í Center, 8720 N. Ivanhoe Street, Portland, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Association for Human Advancement and Development (AHAD) in support of the World Citizen School. Contributions may be sent to Roger Nesbit, 135 NE Billingher Drive, Portland, OR 97220.