March 17, 1925 - May 18, 2010.
Seth Alfred Murphy was born on March 17, 1925 to Charles Perry Murphy and Lillian Cornelia (Evans) Murphy. He had one sister, Fannie Ida Larena, and two brothers, Oliver Howard (Bud) and Gerald (Jerry) Edwin. They lived in Eagle Creek, Oregon while he was growing up. He was raised mainly by his father from the time he was 7 years. During his teen years, Seth, along with his sister and father, developed tuberculosis and was hospitalized for several years. His sister died of the disease when she was 19. During times of feeling well, he attended Jefferson High School in Portland.
Mary Louise Pettis was born on August 4, 1930 to Stephen Douglas Pettis and Maude Alice (Holden) Pettis. She had 7 brothers – Jesse, Russell, Elmer, Earl, Fred, Dean, John (Jack); and 4 sisters – Dorothy, Lorraine, Lauretta, and Blanche. She grew up in Williston, North Dakota and before her junior year of high school, moved with her family to Portland, Oregon. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1948.
Soon Seth and Mary met and married in 1950. They began to grow their family with Sandra Kay, Patsy Cheryl, Michael Linn, and Kelley Jo. They lived and raised their family in the Portland area living in homes on Failing Street, Mason Street and Sacramento Street. In 1970, they adopted Kwi Ok Kim, a Korean orphan, and named her Susan Ann.
Early in his marriage, Seth would have liked to become a photographer, but because he had a family to raise and didn’t feel he could make enough money doing this, he went into optical work as an optical technician. When he and Mary first were married, he had neither his license to drive nor a car so he took the bus to work. He worked for Columbian Bifocal and Opticraft during his working years. In 1956, he got his driver’s license as well as his and Mary’s first car.
Seth enjoyed camping and fishing while his children were young. He also enjoyed big band and country music as well as watching westerns. He played the guitar and the harmonica occasionally. He was a member of the Elks and several bowling leagues throughout the years. In 1973, Seth and Mary purchased a beach house in Manzanita where much family time was enjoyed. In recent years he enjoyed working wordsearches and crosswords.
Mary thoroughly enjoyed family and spent as much time with her family as was possible. In their early years of marriage, Mary worked hard doing housework and ironing for other people. She enjoyed working in the yard, baking, cooking, sewing and crocheting. In the 1970’s, Mary went to school to become a tax preparer and eventually a tax consultant. She worked for H & R Block for several years and then for AB&T Tax in Beaverton.
Seth and Mary were both preceded in death by their daughter, Susan in 1995. Mary passed away in 2005 and their daughter, Patsy in 2008. Surviving children include their daughters, Sandra and Kelley and their son, Michael as well their 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR. 503 292 6611
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