This last week the entire Anton Community Newspaper chain lost one of its most colorful editors ... Eileen Murphy, former editor of Garden City Life.

"Murph" as she was affectionately known, was loved by all of us who worked with her; even by those page designers who had to wait while she added that last little bit of "pizazz" to a story.

But, above and beyond all, she was a good friend; one who you could always laugh with. She found some fun in every situation no matter how grave and she would always have a "story" that would leave you laughing for hours.

We worked many Saturdays together and to work on Saturday is, to say the least, a drag, but not with "Murph" around, who I loved to call "Miss Gaaarden City." We would say we were only going to stay at the office until noon, but somehow 4 p.m. rolled around and we were still there.

When Eileen decided to leave the paper and spend more time at home with Big Ed (her husband) it was a sad day for me and for the paper, but she periodically popped into the office and brightened everyone with one story after another. Those "pop-ins" will be sorely missed ... she will be missed, she was a one-of-a-kind treasure; an Eileen Murphy treasure.

-mdw