John Anthony Murphy

John Anthony Murphy

Was born on July 5, 1920 in Lowell, Massachusetts--yet he was known to say that he was born in Fenway Park during the 7th inning stretch.

John was the fourth of 6 children born to Patrick and Catherine Murphy. His brother, Dennis Joseph, and sisters, Honora Alice and Catherine Mary, preceded him in death, and his sister, Margaret Mary (Margie), and brother, Daniel Edward (Ed), still live in Massachusetts.

John graduated from Keith Academy in Lowell and went on to earn a BS in Chemistry from Lowell Technological Institute. He continued his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a certificate in Meteorology. After he relocated to Seattle he took postgraduate classes at Seattle University.

He served in the US Navy as an Aerological Officer (weather forecaster) and as a fleet officer during WWII and the Korean War from 1942 to 1946. John later served as a Lieutenant Commander, teaching weather forecasting courses at the Sandpoint Naval Air Station in Seattle as a Naval Reservist.

After the war he worked for the VFW, helping veterans receive their benefits. He then worked for the Washington State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation--initially as a vocational counselor and then retiring as department director for the state of Washington. During his tenure, an article was written in a national magazine showcasing the department as the most effective program of its kind in the nation.

He met the love of his life, Helen Domek, in 1944 at the Santa Anna Naval Air Station and married her 3 months later. They ultimately settled in Seattle, and raised their 11 children in the Broadview neighborhood. In the mid 70s, the couple moved to Tumwater to be closer to John's employment at the capitol, returning to the Seattle area in the late 80s to settle in the Shoreline community, Forest Hills, where he resided until his death.

John was an extraordinary man, and the kindest, most optimistic individual who lived his strong faith every day. He and Helen set the bar extremely high with their love for their family and each other.

Helen and John were active members of the Catholic Church. He was a lector in the Seattle parish of Christ the King, where all 11 children attended grade school, and at St. Michael's while living in Tumwater. Helen and John both served as Eucharistic Ministers at St. Mark's in Shoreline. The two regularly delivered Holy Communion to residents at Anderson House, a Shoreline nursing home.

John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, musician, coach, backgammon player, cribbage and pinochle player, lawn bowler, kayaker, plumber, weather forecaster, cook, beer brewer, author, and avid baseball fan and historian (Red Sox, then Mariners). He often treated his family and friends to lively sing-alongs set to his concertina. John and Helen frequently took their children car camping to their favorite NW state parks, and crisscrossed the USA to visit his family in Massachusetts more than once, camping along the way. During John's retirement years, he and Helen traveled to Europe and various corners of the US to visit their children, grandchildren, and other relatives.

His wife, Helen, predeceased John. He is loved and survived by his children Patricia Peyton (John, deceased), Michael Murphy (Teri), Kathleen Murphy, Maureen Condit (Jerry), Ileana Murphy Haggerty (Michael), Joan Weis (Robert), Brian Murphy (Kathryn), Sharon Curtis (David), Diane Payne, Claire Chacharon, and James Murphy (Carole); 29 grandchildren; and 31 great grandchildren.

In addition to the efforts of his devoted relatives, the family wants to thank the caregivers who provided the care and support he needed to stay in his home: Jordan from Right at Home, Justice from Visiting Angels, and his daughter, Kathleen.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 26 at 11AM at St Mark's Catholic Church (18033 15th Place NE, Shoreline).
Recitation of the Rosary will be held on Thursday, September 25 at 7PM at Harvey Funeral Home (508 N 36th St, Seattle).
Interment, Holyrood Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made to a charity of your choice in John's name.

Hoffner Fisher & Harvey
HarveyFuneral.com

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