Louis John Murphy

Louis Leahy (John) Murphy, 88, a resident of Burien, WA, for over 60 years, died Monday, May 14, 2012, in a Burien nursing care facility. His death was attributed to the effects of a malignant brain tumor.

He was born Aug. 16, 1923, in Minot, ND, a son of Thomas B. and Grace (McKone) Murphy. Raised in Minot, he attended and graduated from St. Leo’s Catholic High School, and in 1943, entered the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in Belgium in the Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Battle of the Ardennes. He earned the American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct and Victory medals, a Bronze Star and the African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with three bronze battle stars. He was discharged in 1945, returned to Minot and became employed at International Harvester Co.

International Harvester is where he met Elnor Stein, who had come to work there from White Earth, ND. They were married Nov. 9, 1946, in Billings, MT, where they lived for three years. Then they moved to Liberty Lake near Spokane, WA, where he operated a hearing aid business briefly until moving to Burien in 1951. He went to work for the Boeing Co., a place he came to love and respect. He held various positions there until his retirement in 1984.

He shared a birth date with his oldest brother Frank, who was born in 1911. The pair shared other things too: a keen interest in the game of golf, a capacity for mischief and a lot of laughs and private jokes the rest of the family wasn’t in on whenever they gathered for family reunions. He was good at golf, scored a hole-in-one at age 70, and never quit the game until his health failed in the final year of his life. The last home he and his wife shared was on a golf course.

He often referred to his wife and four daughters as his harem. Indeed, they catered to him in just that way. Yet, each was the apple of his eye. He cared deeply for family—his Irish birth family, the family he helped bring into the world, and his Army family. He brought his wife and daughters to every family reunion, including one in Minot in 1998, two in Lake Oswego, OR, in 1973 and 2007, another in Atascadero, CA, in 1990. He attended military reunions in Williamsburg and Fredericksburg, VA, Sioux City, IA, (twice), Palm Springs, CA, Nashville, TN, and Boston, MA. The biggest and most meaningful military reunion was with his Army buddies in Belgium and France to mark the fiftieth anniversary of freedom for those countries in World War II. His wife accompanied him on those trips. His final military journey was the honor trip to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, taken with his daughter Ronda in April of this year. He and his wife also took a fiftieth wedding anniversary cruise through the Panama Canal. They spent the winter months in Lake Havasu City, AZ, for ten years.

In retirement, he enjoyed exploring downtown Seattle, visits to the Seattle Museum of Flight, and tours of ships docked at the Seattle waterfront, especially military ships. To keep busy (when he wasn’t on the golf course), he worked as a car jock for the airport in Seattle.

He had strong feelings for and a belief in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks that stemmed from his father’s affiliation with the organization. He held a life membership in the lodge, and with Ken Stamp, organized the Burien Elks Lodge in 1959. He served as lodge secretary for many years. He also was a principal in the negotiations that resulted in the construction of a retirement home on lodge property in an arrangement whereby building owners lease the land from the Elks.

He was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Burien and had been an usher at the church.

Surviving are his wife Elnor, Burien; daughters, Sandra and Ronda Murphy, both of Burien, Judy Johnson, Maple Valley, WA, and Karen McMahon, Clallam Bay, WA; grandchildren, Brandee and Shawna Johnson; great-grandchildren, Noel Johnson, Johnathan Murphy Johnson and Garrett Mahaney; sisters, Mitzi Rohen, Lake Oswego, OR, and Grace Fisher, Minot.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sons-in-law, Craig Johnson and Greg McMahon; sister, Helen Lemke; brothers, Frank, Tom and Paul Murphy.

His funeral will be Saturday, June 2, 2012, at 10 am in St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Burien. His ashes will be interred Monday, June 4, 2012, at 10 am at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.

Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.

Yarington Funeral Home at 10708-16th Ave. SW, Seattle, is completing arrangements.