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Submitted: 3/11/15 • Approved: 3/12/15 • Last Updated: 3/15/15 • R1064910-G0-S3
SERGEANT US Army
World War II
July 12, 1929 – March 2, 2015
Mason
*obituary
Roller—Coffman Funeral Home
Leonard Leroy Murphy, age 85 of Big Flat, Arkansas passed from this life on Monday, March 02, 2015 at Batesville Health Care in Batesville, Arkansas. He was born on July 12, 1929 in Decatur, Nebraska to Leo Martin Murphy and Leola Mae (Huffman) Murphy.
Leonard was the last living member of his immediate family. He attended high school in Decatur, Nebraska. He picked up the nickname “Murph” in high school and it stuck with him his whole life. He was a veteran of the United States Army where he served two years and attained the rank of Sergeant. He married Elizabeth Josephine Hanson in 1948 and to this union was born five children, Larry, Gary, Kelly, Jeff and Joni. Leonard was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He spent his beginning working years as a farmer and later moved into the trucking business. In 1964 he went to work at the Fort Calhoun Stone rock quarry in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska where he spent the remainder of his working career operating heavy equipment. Leonard retired in the 1980’s to Big Flat, Arkansas where he and wife, Bobbie (whom he married in 1963) lived on her parent’s family farm. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching football, casinos and the horse track.
Leonard is preceded in death by his parents; son, Gary Murphy; daughter, Joni Murphy Cornish; brother, Maurice Dale Murphy; sisters, Mary Murphy Andersen, Evarine Murphy Brewer, Maxine Murphy Bartell and her husband Dale; and wives, Betty Hanson Murphy and Bobbie Tilley Murphy.
Survivors include sons, Larry (Donna) Murphy, Kelly (Kim) Murphy and Jeff Murphy; eight grandchildren, Michael, Michaela, Gary, Kyle, Shane, Carrie, Jesse and Luke; seven great grandchildren, Jacob, Taylor, Jackson, Kayden, Kinley, Liam and Samuel; aunt, Virginia Huffman; brothers-in-law, Darrell Andersen and Glenn Brewer; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services for Leonard will be 10:00 AM Saturday, March 07, 2015 at Roller-Coffman Funeral Home in Marshall, Arkansas with Bro. Carl Mize and Bro. Joseph Reece officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 till 10:00 AM preceding the service. Burial will be in Big Flat Cemetery in Big Flat, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be Jack McCoy, Rick McCoy, Richard Sutterfield, Jeff Murphy and Kelly Murphy. Honorary pallbearers will be Sonya Wilson and Steve Jack McCoy.
Contributed on 3/11/15 by explorer1948
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Record #: 1064910