Dorothy Elizabeth MurphyFort Pierce, FLDorothy "Dottie" Elizabeth Murphy, age 96 of Fort Pierce, Florida passed away on Monday, December 5, 2016. Dorothy was born on December 22, 1919 in Union City, New Jersey to the late Prospero and Gemma Caprioglio. She was a graduate of Cliffside Park High School in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, Edgewood Park Jr. College in Westchester County, New York, the MacDonald Fashion School in New York City and St. Francis School of Nursing in New Jersey City, NJ. She worked as a fashion model in Manhattan and then became a registered nurse practicing in New Jersey. In 1955 she moved from Plainfield, New Jersey to Vero Beach where she worked as a registered nurse. Soon after she met and married Hoyt C. Murphy and moved to Fort Pierce. She enjoyed playing the piano, reading mystery novels, and later in life developed a real interest in oil painting. She studied oil painting under Beanie Backus, Therese Knowles, and Carol Monshour to perfect her own style. Her travels included Europe, South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Africa, and China. She had a special love for her mountain vacation home in Big Canoe located in north Georgia and made many trips there with her late husband Hoyt C. Murphy, family and close friends. She loved animals and missed her beautiful big white cat Snowflake. Dorothy is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 47 years, Hoyt C. Murphy who passed away in May of 2003.She is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Jones (Frank Chillemi); daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Murphy; son, Hoyt "Pat" C. Murphy, Jr. (Laura); grandchildren, Melissa Haluska, Pamela Rivera, Patricia Dean, and Carl Jones; and five great grandchildren. A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2016 from 9:30-10:30am at Yates Funeral Home, Fort Pierce Chapel. A service will follow at 10:30am and then a burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce, Florida. Memorial contributions may be made to The Humane Society of Port Saint Lucie, https://www.hsslc.org/p/9/donate#.WEgVlrIrKUk or the Backus Museum of Fort Pierce, 500 N. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950.Memories may be shared at www.YatesFuneralHome.Com.Arrangements are entrusted to Yates Funeral Home & Crematory.