Donald Joe Murphy

Don Murphy was a people person. Many say that about themselves but Don truly embodied the term. There wasn’t a neighborhood he moved into (and there were several over the years) that he didn’t bring together and form a family. Neighborhood gatherings quickly became a “thing” wherever he lived, from gathering all the children in the neighborhood together for Easter egg coloring to “Snack Monday” where everyone brought snacks and gathered in the driveway to socialize. No one was ever turned away and if you were fortunate enough to be walking by at the time, you were quickly urged to join the group.

Don left this life April 6, 2017. He had just celebrated his 62nd birthday.

Born in Rolla, MO to Joe Walter Murphy and Betty Geraldine Winn Murphy, Don spent his growing-up years in Ozark, MO where he pursued the pleasant pastimes offered in a small town where everyone knows who you are. He moved to Tulsa, OK in the late 1970’s, where he met and married his wife. Careers took them to Las Vegas, NV; Salt Lake City, UT; Ft. Worth, TX; Omaha, NE; Houston, TX, and finally, Phoenix, AZ.

Besides his family, Don had two great passions in his life: Harley Davidson motorcycles and the Dallas Cowboys. You knew pretty soon after meeting Don about these loves but it was evidenced when you entered his garage (where most of the gatherings took place,) Harley Davidson colors/memorabilia on one side, Dallas Cowboys on the other. He journeyed to Sturgis, SD several times with his good friend and fellow rider, Marc Neill. He also loved guns and often went shooting with his sons and whoever else wanted to go.

Don left behind his wife of 34 years, Natalie Argo Murphy; two sons, Donald Chaz Murphy and Tanner Wayne Murphy, one daughter, Courtney Anne Murphy; his mother, Jerri Winn Murphy; two Shelties, Harley and Blue and one Australian shepherd, Jax. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Walter Murphy.

A visitation will be held at 1:00 pm followed by a funeral at 2:00 pm, Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ 85338.