Irene Blevins Murphy, age 69, of Sparta, North Carolina passed away on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at the Wake Forest Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC.  She was born on March 27, 1956, in Ashe County, NC to Gaither and Belva Mae Finley Blevins.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Louise Taylor, three brothers, Bob Blevins, Steve Blevins, Rick Blevins, and Bill Wiles.  She grew up in the Whitetop Community where she attended Mt. Rogers High School.  Irene will be remembered as a great conversationalist who loved to talk on the phone.  She never met a stranger.  In her retirement years her afternoons were dedicated to her passion of soap operas especially Days of Our Lives and Young and the Restless.  She loved watching and feeding the birds and enjoyed being out of doors.

She is survived by her son, Eric and Mickie Edwards of Piney Creek, NC; one brother, Jerral Blevins of Nebo, NC; five sisters, Lois Davis of Mouth of Wilson, Jean and Wayne Alderman of Piney Creek, NC, Linda Mullins of Ennice, NC, Joyce Smith of Independence, VA, and Kathy Blevins of Lansing, NC; two grandchildren, Morgan Louise and Levi  Arthur of Piney Creek, NC and Tammy Olivia Edwards of Piney Creek, NC; special friends, Shelia Douglas and Donna Edwards  both of Sparta; and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel in Independence with Bro. Matthew Adams officiating. Family will receive friends from 10:00 -11:00 prior to the funeral.  Burial will follow in the Meadow Creek Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Galax, VA.

Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home in Independence, VA is serving the family.