Shirley Jean Murphy Legler, 89, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Shirley was born to Margaret “Marguerite” Loretta Smith Murphy and Raymond William Murphy in 1937, the year of Louisville’s great flood. She was a graduate of Loretto High School and attended Nazareth College, now Spalding University. Shirley met Donald Robert Legler at an ice rink in Louisville and they spent much time dancing on ice. They married in 1959. They were blessed with five children.

Shirley possessed a fierce love for her family, children and the outdoors. She and Don took their children hiking each fall at Natural Bridge State Park. When they got their boat, they taught every one of their children how to waterski. Shirley truly enjoyed her family and cooking for them. Her fabulous pumpkin bread is now a treasured family recipe.

Shirley’s love for animals was inherited from her mother. Throughout her life, Shirley took in cats and dogs and gave them homes. Her favorite pet animal was her quarter horse named Lobo. Shirley instilled a love of horses and horse racing in her children.

As a schoolgirl, Shirley wrote a novel called “Through the Fields of Rolling Bluegrass.” She had a very creative imagination. She also created travelogues using her love of maps. Later in life, no one could beat her at Trivial Pursuit when it came to geography. Because of her love of geography, Shirley excelled at planning vacations for her large family. She and Don took their children to explore historical locations all over the United States.

Shirley’s warm and kind nature will be missed by those who loved her.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Donald. She is survived by her sister Dr. Mary Janice Murphy, her children David (Nan), Susan, Stephen (Paula), Diane (Steve), and Denise (Bill), 12 grandchildren Ezri, Patrick, Jina Rose, Emily (David), Rebecca (Jerry), Jacob (Katie),Christopher (Elizabeth), Andrew H, Atlee, Andrew Z, Erin, and Adam, and 14 great-grandchildren, Grayson, Jackson, Elise, Rowan, Graham, Lottie, Hudson, Lucy, Abby, Rafy, Kayden, Lyla, Benjamin, and Eden.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026 from noon to 4pm at Fern Creek Funeral Home, 5406 Bardstown Road, Fern Creek, Ky. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, Nov 9 at 10am at St Bernard Catholic Church, 7501 Tangelo Drive, Louisville, with a short prayer service afterward at Calvary Cemetery, 1600 Newburg Road, Louisville.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be directed to Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund or Old Friends Equine Retirement Home.