Elizabeth Ann Murphy, 79, passed away on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at Newport Hospital, with her family by her side.

Elizabeth was born October 26, 1940, in Newport, RI to the Late James R. and the late Dorothy (Hayes) Sullivan

She was a graduate of Rogers High School and Newport School of Nursing. Betty worked for several years as a staff nurse. She later graduated from Roger Williams University with a degree in Education and worked as a kindergarten teacher in the Newport School Department, teaching at Coggeshall and Sheffield Schools for 28 years.

She is survived by her daughter Karen E. Murphy of Elgin, IL and son, Thomas J. Murphy and his wife MaryBeth of Middletown as well as three grandchildren: MaryKate Smolenski and her husband Alex, Patrick Thomas Murphy and Liam James Murphy.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 28, 2020, from 5-8 pm at Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at 9:00 am in the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 am in Jesus Saviour Church 509 Broadway in Newport.

Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery Brown’s Lane in Middletown.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be to the Knights of Columbus, #256, 7 Valley Road, Middletown, RI 02842.

Additional information at www.memorialfuneralhome.com

Ryan Belmore is the Publisher of What'sUpNewp. 
Belmore has been involved with What’sUpNewp since shortly after its launch in 2012, proudly leading it to be named Best Local News Blog in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly readers in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and an honorable mention in the Common Good Awards in 2021.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Belmore graduated from Coventry High School and the Community College of Rhode Island. In addition to living in Newport for 10 years, he has lived in Portsmouth, Coventry, Providence, Smithfield, Burrillville, and East Greenwich.

Belmore currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals. He previously served on the Board of Lucy's Hearth and the Arts & Cultural Alliance for Newport County.

Belmore and his wife, Jen, currently live in Alexandria, Virginia, a move they made in 2021. Read more about that here - https://whatsupnewp.com/2021/09/letter-from-the-publisher-some-personal-news/

Belmore visits Newport every couple of weeks to support the 12+ paid contributors What'sUpNewp has on the ground across Rhode Island, a place he called home for 39 years.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.

In 2020, Belmore was named Member of the Year by LION and won the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County's Dominque Award.
Belmore can be contacted at ryan@whatsupnewp.com and 401-662-1653.