Graveside inurnment services with military honors for John W. A. Murphy, 90, rural Lawrence, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Murphy died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2010, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
He was born Mar. 25, 1921, in Lawrence, the son of William and Susie May Shaw Murphy. He graduated from Oread High School in Lawrence.
Mr. Murphy was employed by FMC in maintenance, and retired in 1984 after more than 30 years of service. He was a member of the Alford-Clarke Post 852 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Dorsey-Liberty Post 14 of the American Legion, both of Lawrence. He was a union member at FMC. He was a handyman and an outdoorsman who love to hunt and fish. He had a great sense of humor, and was known to be ornery.
He married Margie J. Kerns on July 12, 1941, and together they shared 70 years of marriage. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include two sons, Jack Murphy and Pat Murphy, both of Lawrence; a daughter, Marsha “Murf” Dixon and husband Chuck, Lawrence; and one grandson, John.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Visiting Nurses, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
Jack & Murph,
Our thoughts are with you. Please know that you and your family have our deepest sympathy.
I will never forget the many wonderful memories our families made together. John (Grouch) was a very special man to all of us. Condolences to Margie, Jack, Marsha and Pat.
I am sorry for your loss.
I last visited with you at my mother’s funeral in 2005(Beulah Higgins). She loved the following poem by H. Marshall.
The tide recedes but leaves behind,
Bright seashells on the sand,
The sun goes down,
But general warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops,
And yet it echoes on in sweet refrains,
For every joy that passes,
Something beautiful remains.
I am sorry for your loss. My parents and Marge and John were friends. There is pain in the loss but so many good memories from the past. Many trips to see the little critter the Murphy’s had rescued as I was growing up. Sugar was a favorite. You are all in my prayers. Ellen
My condolences to the Murphy family. John was a great guy, I learned a lot from John (Jake)at FMC maintenance from the time I was a wet behind the ears kid until he retired.
Bob Howard
John I think of you often and think of you and Harry when we were on Tinian. Sorry for Margie and family left at home.Jack
Prayers to Margie, Marsha, Jack, and Pat. Long time friends of my parents and myself. I will always remember the good times our families had together.
John was my Uncle, we called him Uncle Irish. I am so glad I seen him last year at the Sandrat Reunion. He was a great Uncle. I spent lots of time at thier house growing up and he always made it fun and gave me many good memories. Love to all the family
I worked with Jake at FMC for several years, he was one person who could do or fix anything, like it said, he loved to hunt elk down in New Mexico. Rest in peace ole SANDRAT, Fred Shirk
The world sure could use more people like John. May you all take comfort in the memories of a life well lived.
I am sorry for your loss of a Father & Husband. May your fond memories help you in your time of sorrow. My husband Bill Davison was a good friend of John’s. They both worked at Sanders Motor Company in the fifties. If you need help or would just like to talk-call me at 843-0917.
Lorene