Jim Murphy

Jim Murphy, the son of Jack and Betty (Myrick) Murphy, was born January 19, 1945 at Oskaloosa, Iowa and peacefully passed from this life, surrounded by his loving family, at his home in Jefferson, on April 14, 2014. He lived his life to the age of 69 years old.          

 Jim attended and graduated from the Jefferson High School in 1963. He later attended Boone Junior College for one year and served in the Iowa National Guard. On December 16, 1967, Jim Murphy was united in marriage to Julie Ann Holt at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson. Three sons were born to this union; Brandon, born in Jefferson and Kelly and Jamie born in California. After their marriage, Jim worked in the Jefferson area for about a year and a half and then Jim and Julie moved to Tustin, California. Jim worked for the General Electric Corporation in their aero space division for 25 years and Jim and Julie raised their family. Jim and Julie moved to Parker, Arizona where he operated a Commercial Cleaning business and later went to work at a local Indian Casino as a facility director. He later went to work as night manager at the Hilton Grand Hotel  in   Las Vegas for five years. He  was  also maintenance manager for the apartment complex where he and Julie lived; mainly doing landscaping. In 2007, Jim and Julie returned to Jefferson to make their home.

Jim enjoyed gardening, fishing, cooking and doing “do-it-yourself” projects around the house and for others. His greatest joy was taking part in family activities.

 Jim is survived by his wife, Julie, three sons; Brandon Murphy (Audra Clune), Kelly Murphy and Jamie Murphy (Nicole), six grandchildren, his mother, Betty Johnson and two brothers Dan Murphy (Sue) and Mike Johnson, all of Jefferson. His father and a sister, Sandy Schreck preceded him in death.

A visitation with Jim’s family was held at 4:00 p.m.,  April 19, at the Brown Funeral Home in Jefferson with a service celebrating Jim’s life at 6:00 p.m. with Saint Jude Hospice Chaplain Greg Friedrich officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are given in Jim’s name to Saint Jude Hospice in Urbandale. Brown Funeral Home, 515-386-4125, www.brownfuneralhomesiowa.com.