Timothy Joseph "Tim" Murphy

Timothy Joseph Murphy was born on December 18,1938 at Georgetown Hospital in Washington, DC. He was welcomed at Heaven’s Gate on April 20, 2018 by his deceased loving wife, Maureen and daughter, Michelle.

Tim was born to James and Francis (Mac) Murphy and was the second of 3 boys. In 1940, his family left Washington, DC and moved to Alaska. Some of Tim’s favorite memories and stories come from playing and exploring in Anchorage's long summer days. In 1946, they moved from Alaska to Phoenix - a big change for a man who had "polar bear blood."

After attending some college at Arizona State, he left Phoenix to head to the hills of Montana, into the cooler temperatures which he loved. He landed in Anaconda, living with his college roommate’s parents, the Kunkels. There he worked for the forest service and fell in love with the terrain marking trails, logging, putting out fires, drinking by the campfire and swimming in his “skivvies” in the cold mountain lakes.

Tim met his wife, Maureen, in Club 919 in Anaconda, where she actually picked him up. After marrying, they moved to Missoula where they had 4 children. Tim worked for Burlington Northern for most of his professional career and reveled in his job. He grew to know every inch of land in Western Montana and had a million stories from his time working in the hills. He developed deep ties with his co-workers and came to love them like family.

Tim is the one who got up with his kids in the morning, who took them to school and carted them to all their sporting events. He was the one who always floated his kids a $20 inconspicuously and never ratted them out when they came in late. He loved to pack up and spend the day at the lake where he taught all his kids to swim. His favorite family vacations were to Disneyland, and he never missed the opportunity to fly to Arizona to see his kid brother and nephews over spring break.

Tim was known to his friends and children as the life of the party. He always had a “shot in the beer” on hand for those he welcomed and entertained in his home in the Rattlesnake. Like any good Irishman, he was a natural storyteller. A strong cup of coffee in the early morning was all he needed to get those sparkling blue eyes and sharp wit warmed up and begin his narrative.

While Irish through and through, Tim also embraced his wife’s Italian heritage and came to know all the secrets of her family recipes. He is the one that taught all his children and their spouses how to make “Grandma’s Sauce.” Tim was an outstanding cook and even better baker. You could always find a cake or a pie he had made sitting on the counter ready to be devoured. He cooked Sunday breakfast every week after church
and always took special requests on birthdays.

Tim suffered and battled several rounds of cancer and many accompanying health issues over the past 16 years. When he could no longer live in his home of 44 years, he decided he'd lived a good life and it was enough. Tim is survived his children: Michael Murphy and his wife Patty Murphy; Sean Murphy and his wife Terri Murphy; and Kate Murphy and her husband Mark Bandy. He is also survived by his 11 grandchildren:
Brianna Cunningham, Tyler Smith, Michael Murphy, Daniel Murphy, Cody Holmes, Timothy Murphy, Katey Murphy, Brendan Murphy, Jordan Holmes, Jacob Bandy and Ava Bandy. He also leaves behind his baby brother, Jim Murphy and his three sons Danny, Brian and Patrick.

A funeral Mass to celebrate Tim’s life will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church in Missoula at 10:30 am on Thursday, April 26, preceded by a rosary on Wednesday, April 25 at 7:30 pm at St. Francis Xavier Church.