Ralph Everett Murphy

It is with deep sadness that my brother, Shane and I announce the passing of our father, Ralph Everett Murphy on October 3, 2024. After bravely battling many health conditions and having a leg amputation in the fall of 2023, our Dad lost his battle to diabetes and vascular disease with his daughter by his side. He lived life to the fullest until the very end and was still making jokes with the nurses while being transferred to the ICU. One of the last things he said was, “I have done everything I wanted to do, I’ve seen everything I wanted to see and I’ve been everywhere I wanted to go.”

Ralph, Ralphie, Murph, Dad, Grandpa, Boompa, and Big Daddy were all how his friends, siblings, nieces and nephews, Godchildren, children and grandchildren knew him. He was born in Rolling Dam, New Brunswick August 13, 1942 to parents, Claude and Alice Murphy. He managed to live many places throughout his life including Canada, Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Florida and Maine. He didn’t know a stranger and made friends everywhere he lived.

Ralph started out with the highway department in Ontario, Canada and proudly started his own pest control company, Murph & Sons in Texas. He was a hard worker, but enjoyed his time outside of work the most. He enjoyed cooking and was known for his amazing pies and infamous spaghetti with meatballs. He was told by many that he missed his calling as a chef. He had an amazing green thumb and a gift for building anything he set his mind to. He loved the water and if he wasn’t near an ocean building sandcastles or a lake floating in the water, he could be found sunbathing by the pool. He went all out for every holiday, but Dad made Christmas purely magical. He never stopped looking for the next adventure and he had a gift to make you laugh, even at the worst of times. He would not want us to cry. He would want us to crack a joke and make each other laugh. Heaven just became a funnier place.

Ralph is survived by his loving and loyal siblings, Ruth Murray, Jenny Irving, Rena Bilton, Arthur Murphy, Nina Takayama and Laura Takayama, along with Steve Sutherland, who cared for Ralph and remained a loyal friend during the most difficult years of battling his health. He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Betty Thompson and Evelyn Arseneau and brother Austin Murphy. His two children, Kim Burke and Shane Murphy and their spouses, Joey and Jessica, as well as his 7 grandchildren will carry on his legacy of love, humour, living life to its fullest and finding the enjoyment in all that you do.

His ashes will be returned to his birthplace in his family plot with a celebration of life, to be planned for summer 2025. Please share your memories at www.hockemeyermillerfh.com, so that we may share what Ralph meant to all of us. Rest in peace Dad knowing all the lives you touched here on earth and the beautiful memories and legacy you’ve left us with.